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I 


HISTORY 


OF 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN 

FBOM  ITS  FIRST  EXPLORATION  BY  THE  FRENCH 
IN 

1609 

TO  THE  CLOSE   OF  THE  YEAR 

1814 


BY 

PETER  S.  PALMER. 


THIRD  EDITION. 


NEW  YORK: 

FRANK  F.  LOVELL  &  COMPANY, 
142  &  144  WORTH  STREET. 


F 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

General  description  of  the  Lake  and  of  the  most  important  points 
along  its  borders — Ancient  and  Modern  names  of  places — Distances 
— Old  Forts — Scenery — Original  Indian  name. 

LAKE  CHAMPLAIN  extends  from  the  43°30"  to 
the  45°  north  latitude,  and  lies  between  Vermont  and 
New  York — the  boundary  line  of  those  States  running 
through  its  centre.  The  lake  is  about  ninety  miles  in 
length,  in  a  right  line  from  North  to  South,  with  a 
length  of  coast,  on  each  side,  of  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  miles :  its  southern  extremity,  or  head,  being 
at  Whitehall,  and  its  northern  near  the  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  lake 
varies  in  width  from  one-fourth  of  a  mile  to  thirteen 
miles,  and  its  waters  cover  an  area  of  about  five  hun- 
dred square  miles.  It  receives  the  waters  of  Lake 
George,  at  Ticonderoga,  and  discharges  itself  into  the 
St.  Lawrence,  through  the  river  Richelieu.  There  is 
no  perceivable  current  in  the  body  of  the  lake,  and,  its 
waters,  at  ordinary  stages,  pass  into  the  Richelieu  with 
a  velocity  of  only  one-third  of  a  mile  per  hour. 

The  Lake  has  two  arms ;  one  on  the  west  side,  near 
its  southern  extremity,  called  South  Bay,  the  other,  on 
the  east  side,  near  its  northern  extremity,  called  Mis- 
sisco  Bay.  This  last  mentioned  bay  stretches  into 
Canada  and  covers  about  thirty-five  square  miles.  The 
area  of  country,  drained  into  the  lake,  is  variously  esti- 
mated from  seven  thousand  to  nine  thousand  square 
miles.  It  probably  approaches  nearest  to  the  larger 
estimate.  Numerous  rivers  and  creeks  discharge  them- 
selves into  the  lake,  among  the  principal  of  which  are, 


962569 


4  INTRODUCTORY. 

on  the  New  York  side,  Wood  Creek,  the  outlet  of  Lake 
George,  the  Bouquet,  Great  and  Little  Ausable,  the 
Salmon,  the  Saranac,  and  the  Big  and  Little  Chazy 
rivers.  On  the  Vermont  side  are  the  Poultnev  river, 
Otter  Creek,  and  the  Winooski,  Lamoille  and  Missisco 
rivers.  The  lake  is  subject  to  a  rise  and  fall  of  from 
four  to  six  feet  during  the  year ;  the  waters  attaining 
their  greatest  height  about  the  twentieth  of  May,  after 
which  they  fall,  gradually,  until  about  the  twentieth  of 
September,  when  they  usually  reach  the  lower  level  of 
the  remainder  of  the  season.  In  1869  the  water  reached 
a  point  nine  feet  nine  inches  above  ordinary  low-water 
mark,  while  in  1880  it  fell  to  a  point  nine  inches  below 
low-water  mark.  The  average  between  the  highest  and 
lowest  water  for  thirteen  years  from  1875  to  1887 — 
was  five  feet  two  inches. 

Lake  Champlain  commences  at  the  junction  of  Wood 
Creek  with  East  Bay,  in  the  town  of  Whitehall.  The 
Indian  name  of  this  place  was  kah-cho-quah-na,  "  the 
place  where  dip  fish"  Philip  K.  Skeene,  an  English 
Major  under  half  pay,  located  here  in  1763,  and  estab- 
lished a  settlement  at  the  mouth  of  Wood  Creek,  which 
was  called  Skeenesborough.  This,  for  many  years,  was 
the  most  important  settlement  upon  Lake  Cliamplain. 
In  1773  it  numbered  seventy-three  families,  all  of  whom, 
with  but  two  exceptions,  were  Skeene's  tenants.  The 
name  of  the  town  was  changed  to  Whitehall  in  1788. 

About  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Whitehall  is 
South  Bay,  an  arm  of  the  lake  seven  miles  long  and  one 
mile  wide  extending  to  the  south-west  and  separating 
the  town  of  Whitehall  from  the  town  of  Dresden.  It 
was  on  the  shores  of  this  bay  that  the  Baron  de  Dieskau 
landed,  in  1755,  withanarmy  of  fifteen  hundred  French 
and  Indians,  when  marching  against  the  English  en- 
campment at  the  head  of  Lake  George. 

Twenty-four  miles  below  Whitehall  is  old  fort  Ticon- 
deroga  on  the  west,  and  Mount  Independence  on  the 
east  side  of  the  lake.  The  waters  of  Lake  George  here 
discharge  themselves  into  Lake  Champlain  through  an 
outlet  called,  by  the  Indians,  Cheonderoga;  a  word 


INTRODUCTORY.  5 

signifying  "  noisy,''  and  which  was  applied  in  allusion 
to  the  falls  on  the  outlet  near  its  mouth.  The  French 
erected  a  fortress  here  in  1756,  which  they  called  Fort 
Carillon,  and  which  was  a  place  of  great  strength. 
Mount  Defiance  lies  on  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of 
the  outlet  of  Lake  George,  opposite  Ticonderoga.  The 
summit  of  this  mountain  is  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
above  the  lake,  and  within  cannon  shot  of  the  old  for- 
tress. 

Twelve  miles  north  of  Ticonderoga  is  Crown  Point, 
called  by  the  French  Pointe  a  la  Chevelure.  Here  the 
French  built  a  fort  in  1731,  which  they  called  Fort  St. 
Frederic.  This  fort  was  destroyed  by  them  on  their 
retreat  to  Canada  in  1759,  and  the  same  year  General 
Amherst  commenced  a  much  larger  work,  the  ruins  of 
which  are  still  to  be  seen. 

Opposite  Crown  Point  is  a  landing  called  Chimney 
Point,  which  was  settled  by  the  French,  about  the  time 
they  commenced  building  Fort  St.  Frederic,  and  was 
destroyed  by  them  in  1759.  So  complete  was  the  de- 
struction of  the  settlement  that  when  the  English  ar- 
rived, a  few  days  after  the  retreat  of  the  French,  they 
saw  nothing  but  the  blackened  chimneys  of  the  con- 
sumed houses,  standing  as  grim  sentinels  amid  the  sur- 
rounding ruin.  These  chimneys  were  permitted  to 
stand  for  years,  and  gave  the  name  of  Chimney  Point 
to  that  locality ;  a  name  it  yet  retains. . 

At  the  present  day  Lake  Champlain  is  regarded  as 
extending  as  far  up  as  Whitehall,  but  among  the 
early  writers  its  head  was  knocked  about  in  a  manner 
most  perplexing  to  modern  readers.  Kalm,  who  visited 
the  lake  in  1749,  fixes  upon  Crown  Point  as  the  head, 
and  speaks  of  that  portion  south  of  Crown  Point,  as 
"  the  river  which  comes  out  of  the  lake  St.  Sacrement 
to  Lake  Champlain."  Doctor  Thatcher,  who  was  with 
St.  Glair's  army  in  1777,  considers  the  lake  to  reach  no 
further  south  than  Ticonderoga,  and  refers  to  South 
Bay  as  extending  from  that  place  to  Skeenesborough 
"  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles."  By  several  the 
passage  between  Ticonderoga  and  Skeenesborough  was 


6  INTRODUCTORY. 

called  South  River.  Some  writers  have  run  the  head 
of  the  lake  as  far  up  as  the  falls  of  Wood  Creek,  in  the 
present  village  of  Whitehall,  while  others  describe 
Wood  Creek  as  running  as  far  north  as  the  outlet  of 
Lake  George.  I  refer,  at  this  time,  to  this  difference 
of  opinion  among  the  early  writers  to  guard  the  reader 
against  the  confusion  which  it  has  frequently  produced 
and  to  explain  an  occasional  discrepancy,  apparently, 
between  this  work  and  the  narratives  of  the  events 
here  collected. 

Two  miles  north  of  Crown  Point,  and  on  the  same 
side  of  the  lake  is  Port  Henry,  and  about  eleven  miles 
farther  north  is  North-west  Bay,  called  Bay  du  Rockers 
Fendus,  in  Sauthier's  map  of  1779.  The  village  of 
Westport  stands  at  the  foot  of  this  bay.  On  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  lake,  about  ten  miles  north  of  Crown 
Point,  is  a  small  bay  in  which  Arnold  grounded  and 
burned  his  galley  and  five  gondolas  after  the  engage- 
ment with  the  English,  of  the  loth  October,  1776. 
Otter  Creek,  called  by  the  French  la  riviere  aux  Loutres 
empties  into  the  lake  about  seven  miles  north  of  this 
spot.  The  creek  is  navigable  for  lake  vessels  as  far  up 
as  the  falls  of  Vergennes,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  In 
this  creek  Macdonough  fitted  out  the  fleet  with  which 
he  gained  the  victory  of  the  llth  of  September,  1814. 
During  the  last  war  a  small  breast-work  was  thrown  up 
on  the  north  side  of  the  creek  at  its  mouth,  where 
Lieutenant  Cassin  of  the  Navy,  and  Captain  Thornton 
of  the  Artillery,  with  two  hundred  men,  repulsed  a 
large  British  force,  sent  out  from  Canada  to  destroy 
the  American  fleet  fitting  out  at  Vergennes.  A  few 
miles  north,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  is 
Split  Rock,  called  by  the  French  rocher  fendu.  This 
rock  has  always  been  considered  a  great  natural  curios- 
ity. It  projects  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  into  the 
lake,  and  is  elevated  about  thirty  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  water.  The  part  detached  contains  half  an  acre, 
and  is  separated  from  the  main  rock  by  a  channel  about 
fifteen  feet  wide.  The  popular  opinion  is,  that  this 
rock  was  separated  from  the  main  land  by  an  earth- 


INTRODUCTORY.  7 

quake,  *but  Professor  Emmons,  who  examined  it  par- 
ticularly, supposes  the  separation  to  have  been  occa- 
sioned by  the  wearing  away  or  decomposition  of  a  mass 
of  rock  containing  a  large  amount  of  pyritous  iron. 

The  lake  between  Split  Rock  and  Thompson's  Point, 
formerly  called  Point  Regiochne,  is  not  quite  one  mile 
wide.  A  light-house  has  been  erected  by  the  general 
government,  upon  the  main  land,  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
rock.  From  this  point  the  lake  increases  in  width  as 
it  extends  towards  the  north.  Between  Essex  and 
Charlotte,  four  miles  north,  it  is  three  miles  wide. 
Opposite  Burlington  it  is  nine  and  three-quarters 
miles,  and  from  shore  to  shore,  opposite  Plattsburgh, 
about  thirteen  miles  wide. 

Between  Essex  and  Charlotte  is  Sloop  Island,  so 
called  because  an  English  vessel  of  war,  during  the 
revolution,  fired  upon  it,  mistaking,  in  the  fog,  the 
stump  of  a  pine  tree  standing  near  its  centre  for  the 
mast  of  a  sloop.  A  short  distance  below  Essex,  on  the 
New  York  side,  is  the  mouth  of  Bouquet  river.  At 
the  falls,  two  miles  up  this  river,"  Burgoyne  encamped 
and  gave  a  war  feast  to  a  party  of  about  four  hundred 
Indians,  previous  to  his  attack  on  Ticonderoga  in  1777. 
Fourteen  miles  north-east  from  Essex  and  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  lake,  is  the  city  of  Burlington.  About 
midway  between  these  two  places  are  four  small  islands 
called  the  Four  Brothers.  They  are  called  Isle  de 
quatre  vents  on  Charlevoix's  map  of  1744  and  the  Four 
Winds  Islands  on  Sauthier's  map.  Two  and  one-half 
miles  south  of  Burlington  is  Pottier's  Point,  called 
Erkly's  by  Sauthier.  It  forms  the  west  side  of  the 
mouth  of  Shelburne  bay.  Three  miles  south-west  of 
Burlington  is  Juniper  Island,  on  which  stands  a  light- 
house erected  in  1826. 

North-west  from  Juniper  Island  and  near  the  west 

*  In  the  winter  of  1663  there  was  a  severe  earthquake  in  Canada. 
"  Lakes  appeared  where  none  ever  existed  before;  mountains  were 
overthrown ;  rivers  sought  other  beds  or  totally  disappeared.  The 
earth  and  the  mountains  entirely  split  and  rent  in  innumerable  places, 
creating  chasms  and  precipices,  whose  depths  have  never  been  ascer- 
tained."— Jesuit's  Journal,  Quebec,  1663. 


8  INTRODUCTORY. 

shore  of  the  lake  is  Schuyler's  Island,  called  by  the 
French,  Isle  An  Cltapon.  Under  this  island  Arnold 
collected  his  fleet  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  Octo- 
ber after  his  retreat  from  Valcour  Island.  A  little  to 
the  south  of  this  island  is  Douglass'  Bay,  called  Gorlear 
by  the  French  and  Indians.  It  is  supposed  by  some 
that  the  humane  and  noble  Corlear  was  drowned  in  this 
bay  in  1667. 

A  mile  to  the  north  of  Schuyler's  Island  is  a  bold 
promontory  called  Point  Trembleau.  At  the  foot  of  a 
small  bay,  formed  by  this  point,  stands  the  village  of 
Port  Kent,  and  about  two  miles  to  the  north  are  the 
mouths  of  the  Great  and  Little  A  usable  rivers,  which 
empty  into  the  lake  near  a  sandy  point,  called  point 
Au  Sable.  Six  miles  farther  north  and  half  a  mile 
from  the  main  shore  lies  the  island  of  Valcour,  or  Va- 
leur,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  This  island  is  celebrat- 
ed on  account  of  a  severe  naval  engagement  fought 
near  it  between  the  Americans  and  English  on  the  llth 
day  of  October,  1776.*  One  mile  north  of  Valcour  is 
St.  Michel's,  or  Crab  Island,  and  about  three  miles  far- 
ther north  is  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac  river,  called 
Salasanac  on  Sauthier's  map.  The  village  of  Platts- 
burgh  lies  on  both  sides  of  this  river  at  its  mouth. 
Three  miles  east  from  Plattsburgh  is  Cumberland 
Head,  on  which  a  light-house  has  been  erected.  Cum- 
berland Head  was  called  by  the  French  Cape  Scoumon- 
ton  or  Scononton.  It  extends  about  three  miles  into 
the  lake  in  «a  southerly  direction,  and  forms  Cumber- 
land Bay.  This  bay  was  the  scene  of  Macdonough's 
naval  victory  of  the  llth  of  September,  1814.  To  the 
east  of  Cumberland  Head  is  a  large  island  called  Grand 
Isle.  The  Lamoille  river  empties  into  the  lake  on  the 
Vermont  side  near  the  south  end  of  this  island.  Eight 
miles  south  of  the  Lamoille  is  the  mouth  of  the  Wi- 
nooski.  North  of  Grand  Isle,  and  separated  from  it 

*A  light-house  has  been  erected  upon  the  western  side  of  the 
island,  and  nearly  opposite  is  a  bold  promontory  called  Bluff  Point, 
upon  which  a  spacious  hotel  is  being  erected  (1888-9)  for  a  summer 
resort. 


INTRODUCTORY.  9 

by  a  narrow  channel,  is  another  large  island  called 
North  Hero.  This  is  the  Isle  Longue  of  the  French. 

Twelve  miles  north  of  Cumberland  Head,  and  lying 
between  North  Hero  and  the  western  side  of  the  lake 
is  Isle  La  Motte.  This  island  was  named  after  Sieur  la 
Mothe,  a  French  officer  who  built  a  fort  on  the  north 
end  of  the  island  in  1665,  called  Fort  St.  Anne.  It 
was  afterwards  called  Fort  la  Mothe.  Kalm  says  this 
was  a  wooden  fort  or  redoubt,  standing  on  the  west 
side  of  the  island  near  the  water's  edge.  It  had  disap- 
peared when  he  passed  through  the  lake  in  1749,  but  he 
was  shown  the  spot  where  it  stood,  which  he  describes 
as  then  "  quite  overgrown  with  trees."  Opposite  the 
north  end  of  this  island,  and  on  the  New  York  side,  is 
the  mouth  of  the  Little  Chazy  river,  and  a  short  dis- 
tance further  north  is  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Chazy. 
These  rivers  are  called  Chasy  on  a  map  of  the  survey 
of  the  lake  made  in  1732,  and  were  originally  named 
from  Lieut,  de  Chasy,  a  French  officer  of  distinction 
who,  in  1665,  was  killed  by  a  party  of  Mokawk  Indians, 
while  hunting  in  that  vicinity.  King's  Bay  lies  north 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Chazy.  The  north  side  of 
this  bay  is  formed  by  Point  Au  Fer,  which  separates  it 
from  Rouse's  Point  Bay. 

Point  Au  Fer  was  formerly  separated  from  the  main 
shore  by  a  channel  or  deep  morass  connecting  Rouse's 
Point  Bay  with  King's  Bay.  Kalm  says  that  the  first 
houses  he  saw,  after  leaving  Fort  St.  Frederic,  were  on 
the  western  side  of  the  lake  about  ten  French  miles 
above  St.  Johns,  in  which  the  French  had  lived  before 
the  last  war,  but  which  were  then  (1749)  abandoned. 
These  houses  probably  stood  either  on  Point  Au  Fer  or 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Chazy  river.  Prior  to  the 
revolution  a  brick  house  was  built  on  this  point,  which 
was  known  as  the  "  White  House"  It  was  fortified 
with  an  entrenchment  and  cannon  by  General  Sullivan, 
at  the  time  of  the  invasion  of  Canada  in  1775,  and  was 
then  considered  as  a  very  advantageous  position  to 
command  the  navigation  of  the  north  end  of  the  lake. 
Burgoyne,  when  he  entered  the  United  States,  threw  a 


10  INTRODUCTORY. 

body  of  troops  into  this  place  and  it  was  retained  by 
the  British  as  a  military  post  until  after  the  Peace. 

Opposite  the  northern  part  of  Isle  La  Motte,  on  the 
Vermont  side  of  the  lake,  is  Alburgh  Tongue,  called  by 
the  French,  Pointe  Algonquin.  The  entrance  to  Mis- 
sisco  Bay  is  on  the  east  side  of  this  point.  About  eight 
miles  north  of  Isle  La  Motte,  also  on  the  Vermont  side, 
is  Windmill  Point.  The  French  built  a  windmill  here 
about  the  time  of  the  erection  of  Fort  St.  Frederic  at 
Crown  Point,  and  had  collected  a  small  settlement  near 
the  mill;  but  the  English  having  burnt  the  houses 
several  times  during  their  incursions  into  Canada,  the 
settlement  was  at  length  abandoned.  In  1749  nothing 
but  the  mill,  which  was  built  of  stone,  remained. 

Opposite  Windmill  Point  is  the  village  of  Rouse's 
Point.  This  is  the  terminus  of  the  Ogdensburg  (North- 
ern) Railroad.  It  is  also  the  terminus  of  the  New  York  & 
Canada  Railway  of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Com- 
pany's system  of  Railroads.  The  Canada  Atlantic  also 
lias  a  station  here.  A  connection  is  here  formed  between 
the  Ogdensburg  and  the  Vermont  &  Canada  Railroads 
by  a  bridge  and  floating  draw.  The  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Canada,  as  fixed  by  the 
Ashburton  Treaty  of  1842,  is  about  one  mile  below  this 
bridge.  This  line  is  located  4,200  feet  north  of  the  true 
parallel  of  the  45°  of  latitude,  and  was  so  established  in 
order  to  secure  to  the  United  States  the  site  of  an  old 
fort  commenced  by  that  government  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812. 

The  parallel  of  45°  was  originally  correctly  located  by 
the  French,  but,  in  1766,  Governor  Moore  and  Brigadier 
General  Carleton  visited  Lake  Champlain  and  fixed  the 
boundary  between  Canada  and  the  Province  of  New 
York  about  two  and  a  half  miles  below  Windmill  Point, 
which  Governor  Moore  says  was  further  to  the  north- 
ward than  they  expected  to  find  it  from  the  observa- 
tions said  to  have  been  made  by  the  French  some  years 
before.  Moore's  line  was  recognized  as  the  true  one 
until  about  the  year  1818,  when,  on  taking  new  observa- 
tions, it  was  found  to  be  too  far  to  the  north.  As  soon 


INTRODUCTORY.  11 

as  the  error  was  discovered  the  United  States  suspend- 
ed work  on  the  fort,  and  the  unfinished  walls  were  long 
known  as  "  Fort  Blunder."  Since  the  treaty  of  1842  a 
new  and  larger  fort  has  been  built  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one,  called  Fort  Montgomery. 

Fort  Montgomery  stands  at  the  foot  of  the  lake. 
Here  the  river  Richelieu  commences  and  conveys  the 
waters  of  the  lake  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  This  river, 
for  several  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  Canada, 
was  called  the  river  of  the  Iroquois.  Charlevoix  says 
it  was  afterwards  called  the  Richelieu  on  account  of  a 
fort  of  that  name  which  had  been  built  at  its  mouth, 
in  1641.  This  outlet  of  Lake  Champlain  is  also  called 
the  Sorel  or  Chambly  River. 

Three  and  a  half  miles  below  the  boundary  line  is 
Bloody  Island,  said  to  be  so  called  on  account  of  the 
murder  of  two  lumbermen  who  were  killed  there  by  a 
party  of  soldiers  sent  out  from  Montreal  to  protect 
them  from  the  Indians,  on  their  return  to  the  lake  after 
having  sold  a  raft  of  timber.  Three-fourths  of  a  mile 
below  Ash  Island  or  Isle  aux  Tetes.  One  mile  below 
Ash  Island  is  Hospital  Island  and  six  miles  lower  down 
the  river  is  Isle  Aux-Noix,  where  the  French  established 
a  military  post  on  their  retreat  from  Crown  Point  in 
1759.  Thirteen  miles  below  Isle  Aux-Noix  is  the  vil- 
lage of  St.  Johns.  This  place  was  selected  for  a 
military  post  by  Montcalm  in  1758.  It  was  occupied 
by  the  French  prior  to  1749. 

About  thirteen  miles  below  St.  Johns  is  the  village 
and  fort  of  Chambly.  A  fort  was  built  here  by  the 
French  in  1664,  which  was  called  Fort  St.  Louis.  It 
was  at  first  built  of  wood,  but  had  prior  to  1721  been 
replaced  by  a  strong  work  of  stone,  flanked  with  four 
bastions,  and  capable  of  containing  a  large  garrison. 
Fort  Richelieu,  which  we  have  already  stated  to  have 
stood  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  was  afterwards  demol- 
ished and  a  new  fort  built  there  by  Mons.  de  Sorel,  to 
which  his  name  was  given. 

Lake  Champlain  is  situate  on  the  western  side  of  a 
valley  lying  between  the  Adirondacks  of  New  York 


12  INTRODUCTORY. 

and  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont.  This  valley  is 
from  one  to  thirty  miles  in  width  and  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty  miles  in  length,  north  and  south.  Its  greatest 
depression  has  been  found  to  be  between  Westport, 
Burlington  and  Port  Kent.  A  survey  of  the  lake  was 
made  in  the  years  1870-5,  when  it  was  found  that  the 
depression  commenced  at  Crown  Point  and  extended 
as  far  north  as  Isle  La  Motte.  The  main  channel,  op- 
posite Port  Henry,  has  a  depth  of  40  feet ;  opposite 
Barber's  Point,  of  133  feet;  opposite  Westport,  of  220 
feet ;  opposite  Split  Rock,  392  feet ;  between  Essex 
and  McNiels  Ferry,  399  feet ;  opposite  Juniper  Island, 
338  feet ;  opposite  Colchester  light-house,  291  feet ; 
opposite  Valcour  Island,  205  feet ;  opposite  the  point 
of  Cumberland  Head,  191  feet ;  opposite  Pointe  Au 
Roche  light-house,  140  feet,  and  at  the  south  end  of 
Isle  La  Motte,  86  feet.  South  of  Crown  Point  the 
depth  varies  from  15  to  30  feet,  and  north  of  Isle  La 
Motte  from  17  to  27  feet,  The  broad  lake  generally 
freezes  over  in  January  or  February  and  remains 
closed  until  the  month  of  March  or  April.  In  the 
years  1837,  1872,  1875  and  1884  it  was  closed  by  ice 
from  101  to  103  days.  It  was  closed  7  days  only  in 
1834,  and  was  not  frozen  over  during  the  years  1828, 
1842  and  1850.  The  average  duration  of  ice  in  the 
broad  lake  for  69  years,  was  68  1-2  days.  As  soon  as  the 
broad  lake  closes '  between  Port  Kent  and  Burlington 
the  channel  opens  at  Rouse's  Point. 

Mr.  Colvin  states  the  mean  level  of  the  lake 
for  eleven  years — 1871  to  1881 — to  have  been  96,- 
561-1000  feet  above  tide.  It  is  the  popular  opinion 
that  the  waters  of  the  lake  are  gradually  subsiding, 
but  I  judge  this  to  be  a  mistake  for  the  reason  that  the 
soundings  made  one  hundred  years  ago  do  not  differ 
materially  from  those  of  the  present  day.  The  water 
in  the  bays  and  along  the  shores  is  not  as  deep  as  it 
was  formerly,  from  the  washing  of  the  banks  and  the 
deposit  of  earth,  saw-dust  and  rubbish  brought  down 
by  the  creeks  and  rivers,  but  the  surface  is  probably  as 
high  above  tide  as  it  was  when  the  lake  was  first 


INTRODUCTORY.  13 

visited  by  Champlain  in  1609.  It  is  evident,  however, 
from  an  examination  of  the  adjacent  shores  and  rocks, 
that  the  lake  at  one  time  filled  a  much  larger  portion 
of  the  valley  than  it  does  at  present.  Geologists  sup- 
pose this  entire  valley  to  have  been  twice  occupied  by 
the  ocean — but  these  speculations  are  of  but  little  in- 
terest to  the  general  reader,  who,  usually,  is  satisfied  to 
take  things  as  they  have  existed  for  the  last  five  thou- 
sand years. 

This  lake  has  ever  been  celebrated  for  the  beauty  of 
its  scenery  and  the  bold  and  imposing  configuration  of 
the  surrounding  country.  Upon  the  eastern  side,  the 
valley  is  wide  and  fertile,  until  we  pass  Mount  Inde- 
pendence, going  south,  when  the  hills  approach  the 
lake,  and,  in  some  places,  rise  abrupt  from  its  shores. 
On  the  New  York  side,  the  mountains  in  many  places 
extend  to  the  water's  edge,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Black 
Mountains  south  of  Ticonderoga ;  the  Kayadnrosseras 
range  which  terminates  with  Bulwagga  Mountain  near 
Crown  Point ;  the  northern  end  of  the  West  Moriah 
range  at  Split  Rock,  and  of  the  Adirondack  Mountains 
at  Trembleau  Point,  near  Port  Kent.  These  several 
ranges  run  from  the  lake  in  a  south-westerly  direction, 
increasing  in  altitude  as  they  recede,  and  presenting  a 
scene  at  once  bold  and  beautiful ;  hill  after  hill  rising 
gradually  above  each  other,  until  the  highest  peaks  at- 
tain an  elevation  of  five  thousand  feet.  From  the  west 
the  snow-crowned  rocks  of  Mount  Marcy,  old  White 
Face,  and  half  a  dozen  other  giants  among  the  hills, 
look  down  in  solemn  grandeur  on  the  lake  ;  while,  on 
the  east,  the  eye  passes  over  green  fields  to  trace  along 
the  horizon  the  clear  blue  outline  of  Jay's  Peak,  Old 
Mansfield's  "  Chin  "  and  "  Nose,"  and  Camel's  Hump, 
the  poetic  Lion  Couchant  of  the  French.* 

*  The  following  are  the  elevations,  above  tide,  of  some  of  the  peaks 
seen  from  Lake  Champlain. 

On  the  New  York  side,  Mt.  Marcy  5,344  feet.  Dix's  Peak,  4,916; 
Nipple  Top,  4,604;  Whiteface,  4,871;  Raven  Hill,  1,902;  Bald  Peak, 
2,120;  Lyon  Mountain,  3,809  (Colvin). 

On  the  Vermont  side,  The  Chin,  4,348;  The  Nose,  4,044;  Camel's 
Hump,  4,083;  Jay's  Peak,  4,018;  Killington  Peak.  3,924. 


14  INTRODUCTORY. 

The  original  Indian  name  of  Lake  Champlain  has 
been  a  subject  of  much  speculation  and  research.  By 
some  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  called  Peta-wa-bouque, 
meaning  alternate  land  and  water,  in  allusion  to  its  nu- 
merous islands  and  projecting  points  of  land.  Among 
the  other  names  ascribed  to  the  lake  are  Caniaderi — 
Garunte,  the  door  or  mouth  of  the  country ;  Petow-par- 
gow,  the  great  water,  and  Ska-ne-togh-ro-wah-na,  the 
largest  lake.  These  names,  however,  seem  to  have  been 
selected  more  from  the  peculiar  aptness  of  their  meaning 
than  from  any  known  application  to  the  lake  itself. 
The  early  French  writers  do  not  refer  to  its  Indian 
name,  but  speak  of  the  lake  as  the  passage  that  leads 
to  the  country  of  the  Iroquois.  Among  the  papers  pub- 
lished in  O'Callaghan's  Documentary  History  of  New 
York  in  relation  to  the  old  French  Grants  on  Lake 
Ghamplain,  is  a  letter  from  Governor  Tryon  to  Lord 
Dartmouth,  in  which  he  states  that  this  lake  is  called 
on  Blain  &  Ogelby's  and  other  ancient  maps  the  "  mer 
des  Iroquois,"  the  Richelieu  river  "  riviere  des  Iro- 
quois," and  the  tract  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  "  Iro- 
scosia."  From  this  it  has  been  conjectured  that  the 
lake  was  called  Yroquois  by  the  Indians.  But  this  is 
explained  by  Charlevoix,  who  says  that  the  name  was 
given  to  the  river  and  lake  by  the  French  because  the 
Mohawk  Iroquois  were  in  the  habit  of  passing  through 
their  waters  in  their  incursions  into  the  French  planta- 
tions on  the  St.  Lawrence.  Champlain  affixed  his  own 
name  to  the  lake  during  his  exploration  of  its  shores  in 
July,  1609.  It  was,  at  a  later  day,  sometimes  called 
"  Lake  Corlear,"  in  honor  of  a  Dutchman  who,  in  1766, 
saved  a  party  of  French  and  Canada  Indians  from  being 
destroyed  by  a  war  party  of  the  Mohawks,  and  who, 
the  year  after  was  accidentally  drowned  there  while  on 
his  way  to  Canada. 


In  the  following  chapters  I  propose  to  collect  many 
facts  connected  with  the  history  of  Lake  Champlain. 
No  part  of  the  United  States  is  more  interesting  from 


INTRODUCTORY.  15 

its  historic  incidents.  Every  bay  and  island  of  the 
lake  and  nearly  every  foot  of  its  shore  has  been  the 
scene  of  some  warlike  movement — the  midnight  foray 
of  the  predatory  savage,  the  bloody  scout  of  frontier  set- 
tlers, the  rendezvous  of  armed  bands  or  the  conflict  of 
contending  armies.  These  stirring  incidents  extend  in 
tradition  far  beyond  the  first  discovery  of  the  lake,  and 
are  brought  down,  by  scattered  and  unconnected  history, 
in  an  almost  uninterrupted  series  of  strifes  and  conten- 
tions, to  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812. 


16  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Progress  of  discoveries  by  the  French  in  Canada — Character  of  the 
Indian  tribes — Cham  plain's  visit  to  Lake  Chain  plain  in  1609 — Bat- 
tle between  the  Canada  Indians  and  the  Iroquois — Fort  erected  on 
Isle  La  Motte — De  Courcelle's  Expedition  to  the  Mohawk  River. 

BUT  little  progress  was  made  by  the  French  iu  their 
American  discoveries  until  the  spring  of  1534,  when 
Jacques  Cartier  sailed  from  France  with  two  small  ves- 
sels and,  in  the  month  of  May,  reached  Bonavista  in 
Newfoundland.  Cartier  coasted  around  the  north  shore 
of  the  island  and  along  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and, 
in  September,  returned  to  France.  The  following  year 
he  left  France  with  three  ships  and,  entering  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  ascended  that  river  as  far  as  the  St. 
Croix  (St.  Charles)  near  the  Indian  village  Stadacona 
(Quebec),  where  he  passed  the  winter.  While  his 
party  were  preparing  their  winter  quarters,  Cartier, 
with  thirty-five  armed  men,  proceeded  up  the  river  as 
far  as  Hochelaga  (Montreal),  where  he  arrived  on  the 
second  day  of  October. 

"  Hochelaga,"  says  Warburton,*  "  stood  in  the  midst 
of  great  fields  of  Indian  corn  ;  it  was  of  a  circular  form, 
containing  about  fifty  large  huts,  each  fifty  paces  long 
and  from  fourteen  to  fifteen  wide,  all  built  in  the  shape 
of  tunnels,  formed  of  wood,  and  covered  with  birch  bark  ; 
the  dwellings  were  divided  into  several  rooms,  surround- 
ing an  open  court  in  the  centre,  where  the  fires  burned. 
Three  rows  of  palisades  encircled  the  town,  with  only 
one  entrance ;  above  the  gate,  and  over  the  whole 
length  of  the  outer  ring  of  defence,  there  was  a  gallery, 
approached  by  flights  of  steps,  and  plentifully  provided 
with  stones  and  other  missiles  to  resist  attack.  This 

*  Conquest  of  Canada,  Volume  1. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  17 

was  a  place  of  considerable  importance,  even  in  those 
remote  days,  as  the  capital  of  a  great  extent  of  country, 
and  as  having  eight  or  ten  villages  subject  to  its  sway. 
The  inhabitants  spoke  the  language  of  the  Great  Hu- 
ron nation  and  were  more  advanced  in  civilization  than 
any  of  their  neighbors  ;  unlike  other  tribes,  they  culti- 
vated the  ground  and  remained  stationary."  This  was 
Hochelaga  in  1534.  Seventy  years  later  it  had  sunk 
into  a  decayed  and  unimportant  place. 

On  the  llth  of  October  Cartier  rejoined  his  party  at 
St.  Croix,  and,  the  following  spring,  returned  to  France. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1541  he  again  sailed  for  America 
and,  entering  the  St.  Lawrence,  passed  up  that  stream 
as  high  as  the  rapids  of  Lachine.  The  next  spring  he 
returned  to  Europe  and  soon  afterwards  died.  No  effort 
was  made  by  the  French  to  colonize  Canada,  after  the 
return  of  Cartier  and  his  associates,  until  the  year  1603, 
when  an  armament  was  fitted  out,  under  the  command 
of  Pontgrave,  to  make  further  dicoveries  in  the  St. 
Lawrence.  Among  the  officers  who  accompanied  this 
expedition  was  SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN,  a  captain  in 
the  French  navy  and  a  native  of  Saintonge.  Pontgrave 
and  Champlain  explored  the  St.  Lawrence  as  far  as  the 
Lachine  Rapids,  which  was  the  highest  point  reached  by 
Cartier  sixty-eight  years  before.  In  1604  Champlain 
accompanied  De  Monts  to  Canada  and  again  returned 
to  France  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 

In  1608,  De  Monts,  who  was  at  the  head  of  a  trading 
company,  equipped  two  ships  at  Honfleur,  and  sent 
them  out  under  the  command  of  Champlain  and  Pont' 
grave,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  fur  trade  at 
Tadousac.  Champlain  reached  Tadoussac  on  the  3d 
day  of  June,  and,  after  a  brief  stay  there,  ascended  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  on  the  3d  day  of  July  arrived  at  the 
ancient  village  Stadacona,  which  he  selected  as  the  site 
of  the  future  capital  of  Canada. 

When  the  French  first  visited  Canada  the  Indians 
residing  north  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence  were  engaged 
in  war  with  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians  who  occupied 
the  territory  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  Five  Na- 


18  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

tions  were  a  powerful  confederacy,  consisting  of  the 
Mohawks,  the  Oneidas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Onondagas 
and  the  Senecas.  They  called  themselves  the  Aganu- 
schioni,  or  United  People.*  The  French  called  them 
the  Iroquois ;  the  Dutch  the  Maquas.  By  the  Dela- 
\vares  they  were  called  Mingoes.  Lafitau  gives  them  the 
name  of  the  Agonnonsionni,  as  does  Charlevoix,  who 
says,  "  Leur  nom  propre  est  Agonnonsionni,  qui  vent 
dire,  Fraiseurs  de  Cabannes ;  parcequ'ils  les  batisseut 
beaucoup  plus  solides,  que  la  plupart  des  autres  sau- 
vages."t  In  1712  the  Tuscaroras,  who  had  been  driven 
from  the  south  by  the  English,  were  admitted  into  the 
confederacy,  which  was  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Six 
Nations." 

Prior  to  the  settlement  of  Canada  by  the  French  the 
Iroquois  occupied  all  the  country  south  of  the  river  St. 
Lawrence  and  resided  in  numbers  around  Montreal 
and  in  the  valley  of  Lake  Champlain,  but  they  had 
been  driven  off  towards  Lake  Ontario  by  the  Adiron- 
dacks,  who  lived  near  the  Three  Rivers.  The  success 
of  the  Adirondacks  was  of  short  duration,  for  soon 
afterwards  they,  in  their  turn,  were  driven  from  their 
ancient  seats  to  a  safer  position  below  Quebec. £  In 
1608  the  Iroquois  resided  upon  the  banks  of  the  Mo- 
hawk and  in  several  villages  to  the  west  of  that  river. 
They  claimed  the  whole  country  lying  on  both  sides  of 
Lake  Champlain,  as  far  north  as  the  St.  Lawrence. 
The  northern  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence  was  held  by 
the  Algonquins,  the  ancieift  and  inveterate  enemies  of 
the  Iroquois.  The  Hurons,  a  numerous  nation  residing 
west  of  Lake  Ontario,  were  in  alliance  with  the  Algon- 
quins and  joined  them  in  their  wars  against  the  Iro- 
quois. 

The  Iroquois  were  powerful,  politic,  warlike  and  cour- 
ageous. They  have  been  termed  among  Europeans 
the  Romans  of  the  West.§  Charlevoix  says  the  name 

*  Governor  Clinton's  discourse  before  the  N.  Y.  Historical  Society. 

t  Charlevoix,  Tom  1. 

t  Gordon. 

§  Warburton,  Vol.  1. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  19 

of  Iroquois  was  formed  from  the  Indian  ffiro,  which 
means  2  have  said,  with  which  these  Indians  always  fin- 
ished their  speeches,  and  de  koue,  a  word  often  used  by 
them  and  which,  when  pronounced  with  a  drawl  was  a 
cry  of  grief,  and,  when  spoken  short  and  quick,  one  of 
exultation.*  They  lived  in  villages,  around  which 
they  had  extensive  cultivated  fields.  These  villages  were 
enclosed  with  strong  quadruple  palisades  of  large  tim- 
ber, about  thirty  feet  high,  interlocked  with  each  other, 
with  an  interval  of  not  more  than  half  a  foot  between 
them.  On  the  inner  side  of  the  palisades  were  galleries 
in  the  form  of  parapets  defended* with  double  pieces  of 
timber.!  The  Algonquins  were  a  warlike  nation  and 
the  most  polished  of  the  northern  tribes.  They  were 
a  migratory  people,  disdaining  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil  and  depending  altogether  on  the  produce  of  the 
chase.  The  Hurons  had  some  slight  knowledge  of  hus- 
bandry, but  were  more  effeminate  and  luxurious  than 
the  other  tribes,  and  inferior  in  savage  virtue  and  inde- 
pendence.J  They  lived  in  villages,  of  which  tlie  nation 
possessed  twenty,  but  which  were  inferior  in  construc- 
tion and  strength  to  those  of  the  Iroquois. 

When  Champlain  landed  at  Quebec  lie  found  the 
Algonquins  and  Hurons  engaged  in  active  war  with  the 
Mohawks,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  powerful  branches 
of  the  Five  Nations.  Learning  from  some  Indians  who 
visited  his  encampment  in  the  winter,  that  they  in- 
tended an  inroad  into  the  country  of  their  enemy  in  the 
course  of  the  approaching  summer,  he  determined  to 
accompany  them,  and,  by  that  means,  not  only  explore 
a  river  and  large  lake  through  which  the  war  party 
would  pass,  but  by  his  powerful  assistance  strengthen 
the  friendship  which  then  existed  between  the  French 
and  the  neighboring  Indians.  For  this  purpose,  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1609,  he  left  Quebec  on  board  a  pinnace 
accompanied  by  a  small  party  of  followers,  and  ascend- 
ing the  St.  Lawrence  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Riche- 

*  Charlevoix,  Tome  1. 

t  Champlain's  Voyage  de  laNouv:  France. 

t  Warburton,  Vol.  1. 


20  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMl'LAIN. 

lieu,  passed  up  that  stream  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids 
near  Chambly.  Here  a  war  party  of  sixty  Algonquins 
and  Hurons  joined  him,  and  commenced  preparations 
for  the  incursion. 

It  would  seem  that  it  was  Champlain's  intention  to 
take  his  whole  party  with  him,  but  the  men,  intimidated 
by  the  small  number  of  the  Indians  or  from  some  other 
cause,  refused  to  proceed  any  further,  and,  after  the 
strongest  appeals  on  the  part  of  Cham  plain,  but  two 
would  accompany  him.  With  these  alone  he  deter- 
mined to  join  the  Indians  on  their  long  and  perilous  ex- 
pedition. All  their  arrangements  being  completed, 
Cham  plain  and  his  two  companions,  on  the  2cl  of  July, 
embarked  with  the  Indians  in  twenty-four  canoes  and 
that  day  proceeded  up  the  river  to  a  point  about  nine 
miles  above  the  island  of  St.  Theresa,  where  they  en- 
camped for  the  night.  The  next  day  they  continued 
on  as  far  as  the  lake,  which  they  entered  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  and  coasted  along  its  west  shore  until 
they  came  within  two  or  three  days'  journey  of  the 
place  where  they  expected  to  meet  the  enemy.  After 
this  they  travelled  only  by  night,  each  morning  retiring 
into  a  barricaded  camp  to  pass  the  day.  The  party 
advanced  with  the  utmost  caution,  keeping  their  canoes 
close  together,  and  making  no  noise  which  might  be 
heard  by  the  enemy  should  they  happen  to  be  near. 
During  the  whole  journey  they  used  no  fire  but  lived 
upon  dried  Indian  meal  soaked  in  water. 

Champlain,  in  his  account  of  this  expedition,  par- 
ticularly refers  to  the  superstition  of  the  Indians  and 
the  importance  they  attach  to  dreams.*  Whenever  he 
awoke  they  would  eagerly  inquire  whether  he  had 
dreamed  of  or  seen  their  enemies.  One  day,  while  the 
part)'  lay  concealed  near  Crown  Point,  Champlain  fell 

*  The  Indian  trusts  tohts  dreams  and  invariably  holds  them  sacred. 
Before  he  engages  in  any  important  undertaking,  particularly  in  war, 
diplomacy,  or  the  chase,  the  dreams  of  the  principal  chiefs  are  carefully 
watched  and  examined;  by  their  interpretation  Im  conduct  is  guided. 
In  this  manner  the  fate  of  a  whole  nation  has  often  been  decided  by 
the  chance  vision  of  a  single  man. — Conquest  of  Canada,  Volume  1, 
page  192. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  21 

asleep  and  thought  he  saw  the  Iroquois  drowning  in  the 
lake  within  sight  of  the  encampment.  On  awaking  he 
related  the  dream  to  the  Indians,  which,  he  says, 
gained  such  credit  among  them  that  they  no  longer 
doubted  but  they  should  meet  with  success."  That 
same  night  about  ten  o'clock,  while  proceeding  cau- 
tiously along,  they  met  a  war  party  of  the  Iroquois,  who 
were  passing  down  the  lake  in  canoes. 

As  soon  as  the  two  parties  discovered  each  other  the 
Iroquois  hastened  to  the  shore  and,  having  first  secured 
their  canoes,  began  to  cut  down  trees  and  form  a  bar- 
ricade. The  others  pushed  out  towards  the  centre  of 
the  lake  and  proceeded  to  fasten  their  canoes  together, 
and  then  secured  them,  with  poles,  in  a  position  with- 
in arrow-shot  of  the  barricade.  Two  canoes  were  then 
sent  towards  the  shore  to  inquire  whether  the  Iroquois 
wished  to  fight,  who  answered  they  did,  but  proposed, 
as  it  was  then  dark,  that  the  battle  be  deferred  until 
morning.  To  this  the  Algonquins  and  Hurons  agreed 
and  both  parties  passed  the  night  in  singing  and  taunt- 
ing their  rivals  with  cowardice  and  imbecility.  Cham- 
plain  and  his  two  companions  were  equipped  in  light 
armor,  and  each  carried  an  arquebus.  They  were 
placed  in  different  canoes  and  kept  themselves  con- 
cealed from  sight,  lest  the  Iroquois  might  be  alarmed 
at  their  appearance  and  decline  the  combat. 

On  the  following  morning  an  engagement  took  place 
which  is  thus  recorded  by  Champlain.*  "  The  mo- 
ment we  landed  they  (the  Algonquins  and  Hurons) 
began  to  run  about  two  hundred  paces  toward  their 
enemies  who  stood  firm,  and  had  not  yet  perceived  my 
companions,  who  went  into  the  bush  with  some  savages. 
Our  Indians  commenced  calling  me  in  a  loud  voice,  and, 
opening  their  ranks,  placed  me  at  their  head,  about 
twenty  paces  in  advance,  in  which  order  we  marched 
until  I  was  within  thirty  paces  of  the  enemy.  The 
moment  they  saw  me  they  halted,  gazing  at  me  and  I 
at  them.  When  I  saw  them  preparing  to  shoot  at  us, 
I  raised  my  arquebus,  and,  aiming  directly  at  one  of 

*  Voyages  de  la  Nouv:  France. 


22  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

the  three  chiefs,  two  of  them  fell  to  the  ground  by  this 
shot,  and  one  of  their  companions  received  a  wound  of 
which  he  died  afterwards.  I  had  put  four  balls  in  my 
arquebus.  Our  party  on  witnessing  a  shot  so  favorable 
for  them,  set  up  such  tremendous  shouts  that  thunder 
jould  not  have  been  heard ;  and  yet,  there  was  no  lack 
of  arrows  on  one  side  and  the  other.  The  Iroquois 
were  greatly  astonished  at  seeing  two  men  killed  so 
instantaneously,  notwithstanding  they  were  provided 
with  arrow-proof  armor  woven  of  cotton  thread  and 
wood  ;  this  frightened  them  very  much.  Whilst  I  was 
re-loading,  one  of  my  companions  in  the  bush  fired  a 
shot,  which  so  astonished  them  anew,  seeing  their 
chiefs  slain,  that  they  lost  courage,  took  to  flight  and 
abandoned  the  field  and  their  fort,  hiding  themselves 
in  the  depth  of  the  forests,  whither  pursuing  them  I 
killed  some  others.  Our  savages  also  killed  several  of 
them  and  took  ten  or  twelve  prisoners.  The  rest 
carried  off  the  wounded.  Fifteen  or  sixteen  of  our 
party  were  wounded  by  arrows  ;  they  were  promptly 
cured." 

This  battle  was  fought  on  the  30th  of  July,  near 
what  Champlain  describes  as  "  the  point  of  a  Cape 
which  juts  into  the  lake  on  the  west  side."  Some  writ- 
ers have  located  the  battle-ground  on  Lake  George. 
Doctor  Fitch*  thinks  it  took  place  upon  one  of  the 
points  of  land  in  the  town  of  Dresden  or  Putnam,  south 
of  Ticonderoga ;  but,  from  an  examination  of  Cham- 
plain's  map  01  New  France,!  it  is  evident  that  the  en- 
gagement took  place  somewhere  between  Crown  Point 
and  Lake  George,  probably  in  the  town  of  Ticondero- 
ga. 

As  soon  as  the  victorious  party  had  gathered  the 
weapons  and  other  spoils  left  behind  by  the  Iroquois. 
they  embarked  on  their  return  for  Canada.  After  pro- 
ceeding about  eight  leagues  down  the  lake  they  landed, 
after  night  fall,  when  the  Indians  put  one  of  their  pris- 

*  Historical  Survey  of  Washington  County. 

t  A  copy  of  this  map  will  be  found  in  Vol.  3  of  O'Callaghan's  Doc- 
umentary History  of  New  York. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  23 

oners  to  death  with  the  most  horrible  and  protracted 
tortures.  The  rest  of  their  prisoners  were  taken  to 
Canada.  At  the  rapids  of  the  Richelieu  the  party  sep- 
arated and  the  Indians  returned  to  their  homes,  well 
satisfied,  says  Champlain,  with  the  result  of  the  ex- 
pedition and  uttering  strong  professions  of  gratitude 
and  friendship  for  the  French.* 

The  above  is,  in  substance,  Champlain's  narrative  of 
the  first  visit  of  civilized  man  within  the  limits  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  Two  months  later  Henry  Hudson 
entered  New  York  Bay  and  ascended  the  North  River 
as  far  as  the  present  village  of  Waterford.f  Thus  were 
the  northern  and  southern  sections  of  the  state  almost 
.simultaneously  explored'  by  the  European.  How  un- 
like was  the  subsequent  fate  of  these  bold  explorers. 
Hudson  returned  to  Europe  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year,  and,  in  April,  1810,  again  sailed  in  search  of  un- 
known lands.  It  was  his  last  voyage.  Steering  west- 
ward from  Greenland  he  discovered  and  passed  through 
the  straits  now  known  by  his  name,  and  entered  Hud- 
sen  Bay.  He  decided  to  winter  upon  the  border  of 
this  bay,  but  the  sailors  mutinied,  and  placing  him  and 
a  few  others,  who  remained  faithful,  in  an  open  boat, 
and  abandoned  them  to  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  No 
trace  of  the  brave  captain,  or  his  companions,  was  ever 
discovered. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Indians  Champlain  re- 
turned to  Quebec.  He  continued  Governor  of  Canada 
until  1629,  when  he  surrendered  the  government  to 
the  English  and  returned  home.  In  1632  Canada  was 
restored  to  France,  and,  the  next  year,  Champlain  was 

*  Charlevoix  and  most  English  writers  say  that  Champlain,  on  this 
expedition,  ascended  a  rapid  and  passed  into  another  lake  afterwards 
called  Lake  St.  Sacrament.  Champlain.  in  his  account,  says  the  In- 
dians told  him  of  a  waterfall  and  of  a  lake  beyond,  three  or  four 
leagues  long,  and  adds  that  he  saw  the  waterfall,  but  says  nothing  of 
the  lake.  Had  he  explored  the  lake  he  would  not  have  represented  it 
as  only  three  or  four  leagues  long. 

t  Hudson  first  entered  New  York  Bay  in  September  1609.  He  sailed 
up  the  river  as  far  as  Albany  and  embarking  in  small  boats  continued 
on  to  Waterford,  where  he  arrived  on  the  22d  of  that  month. 


24  HISTORY  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLA.IX. 

re-appoined  Governor  of  the  colony ;  which  situation 
he  continued  to  hold  until  his  death,  at  Quebec,  in 
1635. 

Champlain  was  brave,  high-minded,  active  and  gen- 
erous, and  eminent  for  his  Christian  zeal  and  purity. 
"  The  salvation  of  one  soul,"  he  often  said,  "  is  of  more 
value  than  the  founding  of  a  new  empire."  During 
his  life  he  fostered  Christianity  and  civilization  and  suc- 
ceeded in  planting  them  among  the  snows  of  Canada. 
The  only  great  mistake  of  his  administration  was  an 
injudicious  interference  in  the  quarrels  between  the 
Indians.  By  this  means  he  directed  the  hostility  of 
the  warlike  Mohawks  against  the  French,  and  created 
an  implacable  hatred  on  the  part  of  that  powerful  nation, 
which  time  could  not  heal,  nor  the  blood  of  a  thousand 
victims  soften.  The  Mohawks  never  forgot  that  fatal 
30th  of  July,  1609.  The  names  of  the  three  chiefs  who 
then  fell  at  the  fire  of  the  Frenchman's  arquebus  were 
not  appeased  until  rivers  of  blood  had  flowed  beneath 
the  tomahawk  of  the  avenger.  For  every  feather  in 
the  waving  plumes  of  those  chieftains  a  bloody  scalp 
was  counted — for  every  triumphant  shout  of  the 
victorious  Hurons  and  Algonquins,  in  after  years,  an 
answering  shout  was  returned. 

Mons.  de  Montmagny  succeeded  Champlain  as  Gov- 
ernor of  New  France.  In  1641  he  erected  a  fort  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Richelieu,  as  a  protection  against  the  re- 
peated inroads  of  the  Indians  by  the  way  of  Lake 
Champlain.  M.  de  Montmagny  was  succeeded  by  M. 
D'  Ailleboust,  in  the  course  of  whose  administration,  of 
three  years,*  the  Iroquois  made  several  inroads  into 
the  territory  of  the  Hurons  and  drove  them  from  the 
fertile  banks  of  the  Ottawa.  These  victories  of  the 
Iroquois  rendered  them  more  audacious  than  ever. 
Breaking  a  solemn  treaty  of  peace  made  with  M.  de 
Montmagny  several  years  before,  they  again  appeared 
among  the  French  settlements,  despising  forts  and 

*  Tlie  Governors  of  New  France  held  office  for  three  years  only  ; 
in  consequence  of  a  decree  that  no  one  man  should  hold  tlie  govern- 
ment of  a  colony  for  more  than  that  length  of  time. — Warburton. 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  25 

impunity.  In  their  attacks  no  force  was  too  strong  for 
them  to  overcome ;  no  hiding  place  too  secret  for  them 
to  discover.  So  great,  at  length,  became  the  audacity 
of  these  savages  that  they  suddenly  fell  upon  a  body 
of  Algonquins,  under  the  very  guns  of  the  fortress  of 
Quebec,  and  massacred  them  without  mercy. 

A  dark  and  unpropitious  gloom  hung  over  the  affairs 
of  the  colony  until  the  arrival  of  the  Marquis  de  Tracy, 
as  viceroy,  in  1664.  M.  de  Tracy  brought  with  him 
the  Carignan-Salieres,  a  veteran  regiment  which  had 
greatly  distinguished  itself  in  the  wars  against  the 
Turks**  Immediately  on  the  arrival  of  these  troops 
they  were  sent,  accompanied  by  the  allied  Indians, 
against  the  Iroquois  and  soon  cleared  the  country  of 
those  troublesome  enemies.  Having  established  peace 
throughout  the  colony,  M.  de  Tracy  prepared  to  adopt 
measures  to  make  that  security  permanent.  The  hos- 
tile Indians  had  been  accustomed  to  approach  the 
French  settlements  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain  and 
the  Richelieu  River,  and  to  effectually  block  up  this 
avenue  three  Captains  of  the  Carignan  regiment,  MM. 
de  Sorel,  de  Chambly  and  de  Salieres,  were  ordered 
to  erect  forts  on  that  river. 

M.  de  Sorel  built  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on 
the  site  of  old  fort  Richelieu  erected  by  de  Montmagny 
in  1641.  M.  de  Chambly  built  a  fort  at  the  foot  of  the 
rapids,  in  the  present  village  of  Chambly,  which  he 
called  fort  St.  Louis,  and  M.  de  Salieres  built  one  nine 
miles  above,  which  he  named  St.  Theresa,  because  it 
was  finished  on  that  Saint's  day.  The  next  year  M. 
de  La  Mothe,  another  Captain  in  the  Carignan  regi- 
ment, was  sent  to  Lake  Champlain  to  construct  a  fort  on 
an  island  near  the  lower  end  of  the  lake,  which  was 
intended  to  serve  as  a  place  of  rendezvous,  "from 
which  continual  attacks  could  be  made  on  the  enemy ."-j 
This  fort  was  called  St.  Anne. 

*This  regiment  was  raised  in  Savoy  by  the  Prince  of  Carignan  in 
1644,  and  was  subsequently  incorporated  in  the  French  army.  When 
ordered  to  America  it  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Col.  de 
Salieres — hence  its  double  name,  Carignan-Salieres. 

t  Relations,  etc.,  de  la  Nouv:  France. 


26  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPL A IX. 

As  soon  as  tidings  of  the  erection  of  these  forts 
reached  the  Iroquois,  three  of  those  tribes  sent  deputies 
to  Quebec  with  proposals  of  peace.  M.  de  Tracy  gave 
them  a  friendly  audience  and  sent  them  back  with 
valuable  presents. 

About  the  same  time  he  determined  to  invade  the 
country  of  the  Mohawks,  who  with  the  Oneidas,  re- 
mained stubborn  and  inflexible,  and  inflict  summary 
punishment  upon  them  for  their  former  insolence  and 
treachery.  With  this  view  M.  de  Courcelles  was 
ordered  to  fit  out  a  military  expedition  with  the  utmost 
dispatch.  On  the  9th  of  Jan.,  1666,  he  started  with 
three  hundred  men  of  the  regiment  of  Carignan- 
Salieres,  and  two  hundred  volunteers,  habitant,  for 
Fort  St.  Theresa,  which  had  been  designated  as  the 
place  of  rendezvous.  The  weather  was  so  severe  that 
before  they  had  advanced  three  days'  journey  many  of 
the  men  would  have  perished,  had  they  not  been  carried 
along  by  their  companions.  On  the  24th  Sieurs  de  la 
Fouille,  Maximin  and  Lobiac,  Captains  of  the  Carignan 
regiment,  joined  the  army  with  sixty  men  and  some 
habitant,  but  before  they  reached  St.  Theresa  so  many 
men  had  become  disabled  that  it  was  necessary  to  with- 
draw four  companies  from  the  forts  on  the  Richelieu 
to  supply  the  vacancies  in  the  ranks. 

On  the  30th  of  January  De  Courcelles  marched  out  of 
Fort  St.  Theresa  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  men,  and 
passing  the  lake  on  the  ice,  crossed  the  country  towards 
the  Mohawk  villages.  The  snow  was  nearly  four  feet 
deep,  and  the  men  were  obliged  to  use  snow-shoes  to 
pass  over  it.  As  horses  could  make  no  progress  through 
the  deep  snow,  a  large  number  of  slight  sledges  were 
prepared  which  were  loaded  with  provisions  and  dragged 
along  by  the  men,  or  by  large  dogs  brought  on  for  that 
purpose.  Each  man,  including  all  the  officers,  carried 
upon  his  back  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  pounds  of  bis- 
cuit or  other  supplies.*  The  intention  of  the  French  had 


•  Relations  de  ce  qui  s'est  passes  en  la  Nouv.  France  en  annees 
1665-6. 


HISTORY  OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  27 

been  to  march  direct  against  the  Mohawk  villages,  but 
having  lost  their  way,  through  the  ignorance  of  their 
guides,  they  turned  too  far  to  the  south,  and  on  the  9th 
of  February  arrived  within  two  miles  of  Schenectady, 
where  they  encamped.  Here  they  were  met  by  a  small 
party  of  Mohawks,  who,  pretending  to  retreat,  were 
carelessly  pursued  by  sixty  of  the  French  Fusileers, 
who  were  thus  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  of  about  two 
hundred  Indian  warriors  securely  posted  behind  the  trees 
of  the  forest.  At  the  first  volley  of  the  Indians  eleven 
of  the  French,  including  a  Lieutenant,  were  killed  and 
several  wounded.  The  fusileers  discharged  their  pieces 
and  immediately  fell  back  upon  the  main  body  of  the 
army,  while  the  Indians  retired  with  a  loss  of  three 
killed  and  six  wounded,  taking  with  them  the  scalps  of 
four  Frenchmen,  which  they  exhibited  in  the  streets  of 
Schenectady.  It  is  said  the  whole  company  of  fusileers 
would  have  been  massacred,  but  for  the  intercession  of 
Corlear.  a  Dutchman  greatly  beloved  by  the  Mohawks, 
who  humanely  interceded  in  their  behalf.* 

Information  of  the  approach  of  the  French  having 
been  sent  to  Fort  Albany  by  the  authorities  of  Sche- 
nectady, three  of  the  principal  citizens  were  sent  to  M.  de 
Courcelles  to  inquire  what  were  his  intentions  in  invad- 
ing the  country  belonging  to  the  English.  De  Cour- 
celles replied  that  he  had  no  desire  to  molest  the  Eng- 
lish in  their  possessions,  but  came  solely  to  seek  out  and 
punish  the  Mohawks,  who  were  the  unrelenting  ene- 
mies of  the  French.  He  also  represented  to  them  the 
state  of  his  army,  worn  out  with  fatigue  and  hunger, 
and  requested  that  they  would  sell  him  provisions  and 
consent  that  be  might  send  his  wounded  to  Albany. 
The  English  readily  assented  to  do  as  he  desired,  and 
the  next  day  seven  wounded  Frenchmen  were  sent  to 
Albany.  The  inhabitants  also  carried  large  quantities 
of  beans,  bread  and  other  provisions  to  the  French  camp, 
for  which  they  were  liberally  paid. 

De  Courcelles,  having  rested  his  men  until  the  12th 

*  Gordon  says -the  whole  of  De  Courcelles'  party  would  have  been 
destroyed  but  for  intercession  of  Corlear. 


28  HISTORY  OF    LAKK   CHAMPLAIN. 

suddenly  broke  up  his  camp  and  hastily  retraced  his 
steps  to  Lake  Champlain  and  irom  thence  to  Canada. 
The  Mohawks,  who  were  at  i>eir  first  village,  learning 
the  retreat  of  the  French,  immediately  started  in  pursuit 
and  followed  them  as  far  as  the  lake,  where  they  took 
three  prison  ere  and  found  the  bodies  of  five  men  who 
had  perished  of  cold  and  hunger.* 

The  expedition  of  M.  de  Courcelles,  although  it  had 
failed  to  reach  the  Mohawk  villages,  through  the  mis- 
take of  the  guides,  caused  much  anxiety  to  the  Indians, 
nor  were  their  fears  diminished  by  the  information  com- 
municated by  the  prisoners  that  M.  de  Tracy  intended 
to  send  a  much  larger  force  into  their  country  the  next 
summer.  To  avert  the  threatening  storm,  they  deter- 
mined to  make  immediate  overtures  of  peace.  Accord- 
ingly, in  June,  1666,  ten  ambassadors  from  the  Mo- 
hawks, accompanied  by  a  delegation  of  Oneidas,  re- 
paired to  Quebec  asking  protection  for  their  people 
and  a  renewal  of  the  old  treaties  of  peace.  M.  de  Tracy 
at  first  refused  to  receive  their  wampum  belts,  but  per- 
ceiving that  this  caused  them  great  anxiety,  he  finally 
accepted  their  proposals.  But  while  the  negotiations 
were  in  progress  at  Quebec,  and  just  as  the  French 
viceroy  began  to  congratulate  himself  upon  the  future 
security  of  his  colony,  a  tragedy  took  place  on  Lake 
Champlain,  which  for  the  time  defeated  his  plans  and 
destroyed  all  his  confidence  in  the  professions  of  the 
Indian  deputies. 

Fort  St.  Anne  was  at  this  time  garrisoned  by  several 
companies  of  the  Carignan  regiment,  one  of  which  was 
commanded  by  Sieur  de  Chasy,  a  nephew  of  the  vice- 
roy. Apprised  of  the  friendly  professions  of  the  Mo- 
hawks and  their  desire  for  peace,  the  ambassadors  of 
that  nation  having  passed  the  fort  on  their  way  to 
Quebec,  the  officers  relaxed  their  usual  vigilance  and 
amused  themselves  by  fishing  and  hunting  in  the 
neighborhood.  While  a  small  party  of  French  officers 
and  soldiers  were  thus  engaged,  they  were  suddenly 

*  London  Document  IL     In  1st  Volume  Documentary  History  of 
New  York. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLALN.  29 

attacked  by  a  baud  of  Mohawk  Indians,  who  killed  two 
Carignan  captains  de  Travesy  and  de  Chasy,  and  took 
several  volunteers  prisoners.  Information  of  this  treach- 
erous act  was  immediately  sent  to  Quebec,  and  one  of 
the  Indian  deputies  had  the  vain  audacity  to  boast,  at 
M.  de  Tracy's  table,  that  he  had  slain  the  officers  witli 
his  own  hand.  The  Indian  was  seized  and  strangled 
on  the  spot ;  and  M.  de  Tracy,  breaking  off  .ill  negoti- 
ations, sent  M.  de  Sorel,  at  the  head  of  three  hundred 
men,  against  the  Mohawk  villages  with  orders  to  over- 
run the  whole  country  and  to  put  every  inhabitant  to 
the  sword.  M.  de  Sorel  had  by  forced  marches  crossed 
Lake  Champlain,  and  was  pushing  rapidly  towards  the 
Indian  villages,when  he  was  met  by  a  new  deputation 
from  the  Mohawks,  bringing  back  the  Frenchmen  taken 
prisoners  near  Fort  St.  Anne  and  offering  every  satis- 
faction for  the  murders  committed  there. 

Still  desirous  to  secure  peace,  and  in  the  belief  that 
the  demonstration  already  made  had  over-awed  the  In- 
dian, M.  de  Sorel  retraced  his  steps  to  Quebec,  where 
negotiations  were  again  resumed  with  such  success  that, 
on  the  12th  of  July,  a  treaty  was  signed  by  which  the 
Indians  agreed  to  restore  the  Canadian,  Algonquin  and 
Huron  prisoners  in  their  hands,  and  to  become  the  fast 
friends  and  allies  of  the  French.  On  the  other  part,  the 
viceroy  promised  to  extend  his  protection  over  their 
nation,  "  to  send  some  black-gowns  (Jesuit  missionaries) 
among  them"  and  "to  open  a  trade  and  commerce  by 
the  lake  du  Saint  Sacrement."  * 

*  Relations,  en  annees,  1665 — 6. 


80  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  II. 

M.  De  Tracy  collects  a  large  army  at  Isle  La  Motte—  lie  marches 
against  and  destroys  the  Mohawk  villages — Condition  of  Canada — 
De  Callieres'  project  for  the  invasion  of  New  York — Burning  of 
Schenectady — Captain  John  Schuyler's  attack  upon  Fort  Laprairie 
—Major  Philip  Schuyler's  expedition  to  Canada— De  Frontenac 
marches  against  the  Mohawks. 

WAR  is  the  delight  of  the  savage.  It  furnishes  an 
excitement  necessary  to  his  happiness.  Without  it  he 
pines  and  wastes  in  insufferable  quiet ;  a  restless,  mis- 
erable being.  To  gratify  his  passion  for  war  he  does 
not  hesitate  to  violate  the  most  sacred  treaties  or  break 
the  ties  of  long  continued  friendship,  "  We  must 
either,"  says  Sir  William  Johnson,*  "  permit  these  peo- 
ple to  cut  each  other's  throats,  or  risk  their  discharging 
their  fury  on  our  traders  and  defenceless  frontiers." 

M.  de  Tracy  soon  found  that  he  could  only  secure 
permanent  peace  and  quiet  to  the  colony,  by  an  expe- 
dition into  the  Mohawk  country,  of  such  force  as  to 
make  that  implacable  nation  feel  the  destructive  power 
of  the  French  Arms.  With  such  an  army  he  now  pre- 
pared to  march  against  the  Indian  villages  on  the  Mo- 
hawk River.  Never  had  Fort  St.  Anne  presented  so 
lively  a  scene  as  was  beheld  there  in  September,  1666. 
Witliin  the  fort  and  close  under  its  defences  were  col- 
lected six  hundred  veterans  of  the  Carignan-Salieres, 
while  on  the  main  shore  opposite  lay  encamped  an 
equal  number  of  volunteers,  Haitians  of  the  colony. 
One  hundred  Huron  and  Algonquin  warriors,  bedaubed 
with  paint  and  bedecked  with  feathers,  stalked  majesti- 
cally among  the  crowd,  and  rendered  the  night  boister- 
ous with  their  war  songs  and  dances.  The  labor  of 
preparing  this  expedition,  the  largest  which  had  yet 
been  collected  on  Lake  Champlain,  was  confided  to  M. 
Talon,  Intendant  of  New  France. 

*  Letter  to  Earl  of  Hillsborough. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  31 

On  the  1st  of  October,  M.  de  Courcelles  started  from 
the  fort  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  men.  On  the  3d 
the  main  body  of  the  army  moved  off  under  the  imme- 
diate command  of  M.  de  Tracy,  who  despite  his  ad- 
vanced years,  was  determined  to  lead  the  expedition  in 
person.  Four  days  afterwards  Sieurs  de  Chambly  and 
Berthier  followed  with  the  rear  guard.  The  progress 
of  the  army,  after  it  reached  the  upper  end  of  the  lake, 
was  slow  and  laborious,  as  the  men  dragged  with  them 
two  small  pieces  of  cannon  and  three  hundred  bateau 
or  bark  canoes,  which  had  been  provided  for  crossing 
the  lakes  and  rivers  on  the  route.  It  was  De  Tracy's 
intention  to  surprise  the  Indians  before  they  should 
learn  of  his  advance ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  great 
caution  of  the  troops,  the  Mohawks  received  timely  in- 
formation of  their  approach,  and,  abandoning  the  vil- 
lages, secreted  themselves  in  the  surrounding  forests, 
or  ascended  the  mountains,  and  from  a  distance  fired 
random  shots  at  the  soldiers.  The  French  found  the 
cabins  of  this  nation  larger  and  better  built  than  any 
they  had  seen  elsewhere.  The  villages  were  surrounded 
by  a  triple  palisade  twenty  feet  in  height,  newly  repaired 
and  strengthened  and  flanked  by  four  bastions.  Large 
quantities  of  Indian  corn,  beans  and  other  provisions 
were  stored  away  in  magazines  sunk  in  the  ground, 
and  numerous  bark  tanks  filled  with  water  stood  about 
the  enclosure  to  supply  the  inhabitants  with  water,  and 
to  extinguish  fires  when  necessary.  Everything  indi- 
cated that  the  Indians  intended  to  make  a  strong  de- 
fence, had  they  not  been  intimidated  by  the  strength 
and  numbers  of  the  invaders.  But  as  it  was,  not  a 
warrior  or  able-bodied  man  was  to  be  seen  ;  they  had 
fled,  leaving  behind  only  the  women  and  a  few  old  and 
decrepit  men,  too  feeble  to  escape.  These  M.  de  Tracy 
retained  as  prisoners.  In  this  manner  he  passed  through 
the  whole  country  until  he  reached  the  most  remote 
Mohawk  village,  which  he  burned.  After  celebrating 
Mass  and  returning  thanks  to  God  for  the  success  of 
the  enterprise,  the  French  retraced  their  steps  towards 
Canada,  on  their  way  burning  the  other  villages  and 


32  HISTORY  OF  TJ\.KE  CHAMPLAIN. 

detroying  all  the  provisions  they  could  not  carry  off.* 
While  the  army  was  passing  near  Schenectady  on 
its  return,  M.  de  Courcelles  called  upon  Corlear,  who 
it  will  be  remembered  had  rendered  the  French  such 
signal  service  the  preceding  winter,  and  invited  him 
to  visit  Canada.  On  Lake  Champlain  the  fleet  of  boats 
encountered  a  heavy  storm,  which  capsized  two  canoes 
with  eight  persons  on  board,  all  of  whom  were  unfor- 
tunately drowned.  Among  the  persons  thus  lost  were 
Corlear  and  Lieut.  Sieur  de  Luges,  an  officer  of  great 
merit  and  distinction.! 

The  expedition  of  M.  de  Tracy  effectually  subdued 
the  Mohawks,  and,  for  the  next  twenty  years,  secured 
the  settlements  on  the  St.  Lawrence  from  the  inroads 
of  that  nation.  But  Canada  was  not  destined  long  to 
enjoy  the  blessings  of  profound  peace.  Ten  years  had 
scarcely  elapsed  before  she  found  herself  again  engaged 
in  a  destructive  war  with  the  Western  Iroquois,  which 
continued,  with  short  intervals  of  truce  and  with  varied 
success,  until  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1713.  For  sev- 
eral years  after  the  commencement  of  this  war  the 
English  colonists  were  on  friendly  terms  with  those  of 
Canada,  and  repeatedly  refused  to  aid  the  Western 
Iroquois  in  their  controversy  with  the  French.  They 
were  equally  careful  to  do  nothing  to  prevent  it.  "  The 
Five  Nations  are  a  bulwark  between  us  and  the  French." 
said  Governor  Dongan.J  That  bulwark  was  strongest 
in  war.  In  times  of  peace  it  might  crumble  into  atoms. 
The  Jiccession  of  William  and  Mary  to  the  throne  of 
England,  in  1689,  was  followed  by  a  war  between  the 
English  and  French,  which  continued  until  the  peace 

*  Relation,  etc.,  en  la  Nouv.  France,  en  annees!665 — 6. 

t  The  accounts  of  these  expeditions  through  Lake  Champlain  do 
not  clearly  indicate  the  route  followed  by  the  French,  but  it  was 
.  probably  along  the  western  border  of  the  lake  as  far  south  as  the 
outlet  of  Lake  George,  then  up  the  outlet  and  through  that  lake  to 
its  head,  from  whence  it  crossed  the  country  to  the  waters  of  the 
Hudson  River.  In  the  treaty  between  the  French  and  Iroquois,  re- 
ferred to  at  the  close  of  the  proceeding  chapter,  it  was  expressly  pro- 
vided that  trade  and  commerce  be  opened  to  the  Iroquois,  with  New 
France,  "  by  the  lake  du  saint  Sacrement." 

•  |  Dongan's  Report  to  the  Committee  of  Trade,  1687. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  33 

of  Ryswick  in  1697.  The  news  of  the  quarrel  between 
the  mother  countries  soon  reached  America,  and  found 
the  colonists  of  both  nations,  not  only  willing,  but 
anxious  to  participate  in  the  struggle.  The  Chevalier 
de  Callieres,  who  was  Governor  of  Montreal  and  Com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  troops  and  militia  in  Canada, 
visited  France  in  the  year  1689,  and  submitted  to  the 
King  a  project  for  the  reduction  of  the  Province  of  New 
York,  tlie  re-establishment  of  French  ascendency  over 
the  Five  Nations,  and  the  consequent  control  of  the  lu- 
crative fur  trade  of  America. 

De  Callieres'  plan  was  to  lead  an  army  of  two  thou- 
sand men  up  the  Richelieu  River  and  Lake  Champlain 
as  far  as  the  carrying  place  between  Wood  Creek  and 
the  Hudson  River,  w.here  he  would  build  a  small  log 
fort,  and  garrison  it  with  two  hundred  men  to  guard 
the  bateau  during  his  absence.  With  the  rest  of  his 
army  he  would  march  direct  against  Fort  Orange 
(Albany)  which  he  would  seize,  and  then,  embarking 
in  the  boats  and  canoes  found  there,  would  push  on  for 
New  York.  This  town  he  represented  as  containing 
two  hundred  houses,  protected  by  a  small  fort  which 
could  offer  but  a  slight  resistance  to  his  attack.  To 
prevent  succor  reaching  the  town  from  Boston  or  Eng- 
land, he  required  that  two  ships  of  war  should  be  sent 
to  cruise  in  the  mouth  of  the  river  until  his  arrival.  De 
Callieres  predicted  the  highest  benefits  to  France  from 
the  success  of  his  project.  "It  will,"  he  declared, 
"  firmly  establish  the  Christian  religion  as  well  among 
the  Iroquois  as  among  the  other  savages  to  whom  we 
shall  be  able  to  speak  as  masters,  when  they  are  encir- 
cled on  the  side  of  Canada  as  well  as  of  New  York.  It 
will  secure  and  facilitate  the  cod-fishery,  which  is  car- 
ried on  along  our  coasts  of  Lacadie  and  on  the  Great 
Bank.  It  will  give  His  Majesty  one  of  the  finest  har- 
bors in  America  which  can  be  entered  during  almost 
all  seasons  of  the  year,  in  less  than  one  month  of  very 
easy  navigation."  Accept  the  favorable  opportunity 
which  presents  itself  of  becoming  masters  of  New  York, 
adds  de  Callieres  in  conclusion,  and  the  trade  of  our 


34  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Colony  will  flourish ;  reject  it  and  English  intrigues 
with  the  Iroquois  and  other  savages  will  destroy  Canada 
in  a  little  while.* 

The  French  King  received  de  Callieres  with  favor 
and  in  June  of  the  same  year  sent  instructions  to 
Count  de  Frontenac,  then  viceroy  of  Canada,  to  organ- 
ize an  expedition  to  carry  out  the  proposed  plan,  and 
directed  that  De  Callieres  should  be  appointed  Governor 
of  the  conquered  Province. — The  King  also  ordered 
Sieur  Begon  to  send  out  two  ships  of  war  under  com- 
mand of  Sieur  de  la  Caffiniere,  who  was  instructed  to 
place  himself  under  the  direction  of  de  Frontenac. 
Should  the  proposed  expedition  fail,  de  Caffiniere  was 
ordered  "  to  make  war  against  the  English,  and  to 
range  along  the  coasts  of  New  England  and  New  York, 
to  capture  as  many  prizes  as  possible,  and  to  remain 
there  until  he  have  no  more  provisions  than  are  neces- 
sary for  his  return  to  France."! 

While  the  French  were  engaged  in  prosecuting  the 
war  with  the  Indians  at  the  west  they  seem  to  have 
been  regardless  of  the  exposed  state  of  the  frontier 
towards  Lake  Champlain.  The  old  forts  of  St.  Anne 
and  St.  Theresa,  which  had  proved  so  great  a  protec- 
tion twenty  years  before,  were  suffered  to  decay.  Mont- 
real was  not  fortified  ;  a  triple  palisade,  in  poor  repair, 
being  its  main  -defence.  Indeed  the  only  work  in  that 
quarter  of  any  strength  was  the  fort  at  Chambly,  which 
had  been  rebuilt  of  stone  and  was  surrounded  by  a  small 
but  flourishing  settlement.  On  the  12th  of  November, 
1687,  a  formidable  party  of  the  Iroquois  suddenly 
attacked  this  fort.  The  garrison  made  a  successful 
resistance,  but  the  settlement  around  was  ravaged  and 
several  of  the  inhabitants  taken  prisoners.  A  few  days 
later  the  whole  country  between  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
the  Richelieu  swarmed  with  a  savage  host,  who  de- 
manded immediate  audience  with  the  Governor,  M.  de 
Denonville,  and  haughtily  dictated  peace  to  the  weak 
and  terrified  inhabitants.  "  Look,"  cried  the  proud 

*  De  Callieres  to  the  Marquis  of  Seiguelay.     January,  1689. 
t  Instructions  to  Count  de  Frontenac,  June  7th,  1689. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  35 

Chief,  pointing  towards  a  band  of  fvvelve  hundred  war- 
riors at  his  back,  "  we  are  like  the  leaves  of  the  forest 
in  number  and  stronger  than  the  mighty  oak.  Your 
people  are  few  and  weak.  We  have  no  occasion  to  lift 
our  whole  hand,  for  our  little  finger  is  sufficient  to 
destroy  you."  Denonville  bowed  before  a  storm  he 
could  not  resist,  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  upon 
the  terms  proposed  by  the  savages. 

Of  short  duration  was  this  boon  of  peace  to  the 
French,  the  acceptance  of  which  alike  proclaimed  their 
own  humiliation  and  the  power  of  their  savage  foe. 
On  the  26th  of  July,  1688,  twelve  hundred  Indian  war- 
riors landed  on  the  island  of  Montreal,  and  having 
overpowered  a  force  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Canadians 
and  fifty  Indians  imprudently  sent  against  them,  devas- 
tated the  whole  settlement,  killing  nearly  a  thousand 
of  the  inhabitants  and  carrying  two  hundred  of  them 
into  captivity.*  The  St.  Lawrence  frontier  was  no»v 
at  the  mercy  of  the  fierce  and  relentless  Iroquois.  The 
power  of  the  French  was  paralyzed ;  trade  languished, 
agriculture  was  interrupted  and  the  very  existence  of 
the  colony  threatened. 

Such  was  the  gloomy  condition  of  affairs  when  the 
instructions  of  the  King,  for  an  invasion  of  New  York, 
reached  the  Count  de  Frontenac.  The  troops  in  Canada 
consisted  of  thirty-five  companies  of  regulars,  each 
of  which,  when  full,  numbered  fifty  men.  But  at  least 
four  hundred  and  fifty  were  required  to  fill  the  ranks, 
so  that  the  actual  number  did  not  exceed  thirteen  hun- 
dred.! Of.  the  habitans,  about  three  thousand  were 
able  to  bear  arms.J  Although  de  Frontenac  could  not 
send  out  an  expedition  of  the  magnitude  and  strength 
proposed  in  his  instructions,  he  nevertheless  determined 
to  organize  three  small  detachments  to  march  against 
the  English.  One  was  to  rendezvous  at  Montreal  and 
was  to  proceed  against  Albany,  another  was  to  assemble 

•Gordon — Warburton,  Vol.  1. 

t  De  Callieres  to  the  Marquis  of  Seignelay. 

t  Tliis  was  the  estimated  number  in  1687.  It  had  probably  decreased 
during  two  succeeding  years — See  Gov.  Dongan's  Report  to  Board  of 
Trade. 


38  HISTORY   OP   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

at  Three  Rivers,  from  whence  a  descent  was  to  be  made 
upon  the  settlements  near  the  Connecticut,  and  the  third 
was  to  start  from  Quebec  to  attack  the  settlements,  on 
the  seaboard,  east  of  Boston. 

The  party  which  left  Three  Rivers  surprised  and 
destroyed  the  English  settlement  of  Salmon  Fulls  and 
on  their  retreat,  falling  in  with  M.  de  Mamerval,  who 
had  marched  from  Quebec,  joined  him  in  an  attack  on 
the  fortified  village  of  Kaskebe  upon  the  sea  coast, 
which  they  captured  after  a  severe  struggle.* 

The  third  and  most  important  detachment  numbered 
two  hundred  and  ten  men,  including  ninety-six  Huron 
and  Algonquin  Indians.  This  detachment  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  two  Canadian  officers,  Sieur  la 
Moyne  de  St.  Helene  and  Lieutenant  Daillebout  de 
Mantet,  having  under  them  D'Iberville  and  De  Mon- 
tesson.  Attached  to  the  expedition  as  volunteers  were 
Sieurs  de  Bonrepos  iind  de  la  Brosse,  two  Calvinist  offi- 
cers, and  Sieurs  de  Blainville  and  de  Montigny.  The 
party  left  Montreal  about  the  middle  of  the  month  of 
January  1690,  crossing  to  the  Richelieu  and  ascending 
that  river  and  Lake  Cham  plain  on  the  ice.  At  the 
close  of  the  sixth  day's  march  a  consultation  was  held  to 
determine  the  route  to  be  taken  and  to  regulate  the 
plan  of  attack.  The  Indians  asked  where  the  officers 
proposed  to  lead  them.  To  tin's  De  St.  Helene  replied 
that  he  had  received  no  orders  to  march  against  any 
particular  place,  but  generally  to  act  as  he  should  think 
best,  and  that  he  wished  to  attack  and  surprise  Fort 
Orange,  which  he  represented  as  the  capital  of  New 
York  and  a  place  of  considerable  importance.  The 
Indians,  remembering  the  defeats  of  the  French  during 
the  preceding  year,  and  holding  their  prowess  in  slight 
esteem,  opposed  this  plan  as  rash  and  impracticable. 
"Attack  an  armed  fort  indeed,"  cried  a  swarthy  war- 
rior sarcastically,  "  Since  when  have  the  French  be- 
come so  desperate  !  "  k' We  wish  to  regain  our  honor, 
"  replied  de  Mantet,  "  or  perish  in  so  glorious  an  enter- 
prise." The  Indians,  however,  remained  unconvinced 
*  Warburton,  Vol.  1. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLA1N.  37 

and  the  party  moved  on  without  coming  to  a  decision. 
Eight  days  after  this  the  party  reached  the  point 
where  the  two  routes  to  Albany  and  Schenectady  di- 
verged. The  Indians  took  the  road  leading  towards 
Schenectady,  and  the  French  followed  without  objection. 
Nine  days  afterwards  they  arrived,  about  four  in  tho 
evening,  within  two  miles  of  that  place.  Here  the 
savages  were  addressed  by  one  of  their  Chiefs,  who 
urged  them  to  lose  all  recollection  of  their  fatigue  and 
to  prepare  to  take  ample. revenge  for  the  injuries  they 
had  received  from  the  Iroquois  at  the  instigation  of  the 
English.  Having  remained  here  to  refresh  themselves 
and  prepare  their  arms,  the  party  moved  on,  and  about 
11  o'clock  came  within  sightof  the  village.  The  night 
was  intensely  cold  and  the  citizens  had  retired  early  to 
bed — even  those  who  usually  guarded  the  gates  of  the 
palisade  had  withdrawn,  leaving  those  avenues  open 
and  undefended.  In  profound  silence  the  Canadian 
officers  marched  into  the  village  and  distributed  their 
forces  among  the  scattered  houses.  As  soon  as  each 
man  was  properly  posted,  the  savages  raised  the  war 
cry  and  the  whole  force  rushed  upon  the  unconscious 
inhabitants.  De  Mantet,  at  the  head  of  one  party,  as- 
asulted  a  small  fort  which  he  captured  and  burned; 
putting  to  death  all  who  defended  it.  De  St.  Helene 
rushed  against  the  barricaded  doors  of  the  private 
houses,  beating  them  down  with  muskets  and  slaughter- 
ing every  one  who  opposed  his  progress.  In  the  con- 
fusion, M.  de  Montigny  was  wounded  by  the  thrust  of 
a  spear.  The  massacre  lasted  for  two  hours,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  sixty  of  the  inhabitants,  including  women 
and  children,  were  butchered  in  cold  blood.  Having 
pillaged  and  burned  every  house  in  the  village  but  two, 
the  French  and  Indians,  early  the  next  morning,  started 
on  their  return  to  Canada  taking  with  them  twenty- 
seven  prisoners  and  carrying  off  fifty  horses,  besides  a 
quantity  of  other  property.* 

*M.  de  Monseignat's  account.  In  this  account  it  is  stated  that 
"some  twenty  Mohawks  were  spared,  in  order  to  show  them  that  it 
was  the  English  and  not  they  against  whom  the  grudge  was  enter- 
tained. 


38  HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAMI'LAIN. 

The  news  of  this  murderous  assault  reached  Albany 
about  five  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  created  the 
greatest  consternation  among  its  inhabitants.  Alarm 
guns  were  fired  from  the  fort,  messages  were  sent  to 
Esopus  for  assistance,  and  Laurence,  a  Mohawk  chief 
then  in  Albany,  hurried  to  the  Mohawk  castles  to 
bring  down  the  warriors  of  that  nation.  In  three  days 
a  party  of  fifty  young  men  from  Albany  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Indians  were  collected  at  Schenectacly, 
and  started  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  marauders.  At 
Crown  Point  the  young  men  gave  out,  but  Laurence 
and  his  Indians  continued  on  as  far  as  Canada  and  suc- 
ceeded in  overtaking  a  party  of  Canadians,  who  had 
dropped  to  the  rear  of  the  main  body,  of  whom  they 
killed  six  and  took  twelve  prisoners. 

The  accounts  given  by  these  prisoners  were  of  the 
most  startling  nature.  Count  de  Frontenac,  they  said, 
was  busily  engaged  preparing  for  an  invasion  of  New 
York.  He  had  already  built  one  hundred  and  twenty 
batetiux  and  one  hundred  birch  canoes,  and  intended, 
in  the  spring,  to  pass  up  Lake  Champlain  at  the  head 
of  fifteen  hundred  regular  troops  and  one  thou- 
sand allied  Indians.  Letters  were  now  addressed,  by 
Lieutenant-Governor  Liesler,  to  the  Governors  of  the 
different  Provinces,  calling  earnestly  for  aid  to  protect 
the  exposed  frontier  beyond  Albany.  The  Five  Na- 
tions were  also  assembled  in  council  and  agreed  to  fur- 
nish eighteen  hundred  warriors  to  fight  the  French. 

Nor  were  the  authorities  of  Albany  idle.  On  the 
26th  of  March  they  ordered  Captain  Jacob  d'  Warm  to 
proceed  to  Crown  Point  with  seventeen  English  and 
twenty  Indians,  and  there  watch  the  movements  of  the 
enemy.  Four  days  later  Captain  Abram  Schuyler  was 
sent,  with  nine  men  and  a  party  of  Mohawks  under 
Laurence,  to  take  post  at  Otter  Creek,  for  a  similar 
purpose.  Captain  Schuyler,  while  posted  at  Otter 
Creek,  led  a  scout  of  eight  Indians  as  far  as  Chambly, 
where  he  encountered  a  small  party  of  the  French,  of 
whom  he  killed  two  and  took  one  prisoner.* 
*  Documentary  History  of  New  York. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  39 

About  the  10th  of  April,  one  of  the  parties  on  Lake 
Champlain  sent  in  word  that  they  had  discovered  the 
track  of  twelve  French  and  Indians,  proceeding  in  the 
direction  of  Albany.  Warning  of  danger  was  immedi- 
ately sent  throughout  the  country  and  the  inhabitants 
were  advised  to  retreat  into  the  neighboring  towns  for 
safety.  Two  families,  residing  near  Schenectady,  neg- 
lected the  advice  and  were  attacked  during  the  night 
and  eleven  of  their  number  killed  or  captured.* 

The  fear  that  this  success  might  excite  the  French 
to  further  outrage  hastened  the  preparations  of  the 
New  York  Colonists  for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  On 
the  1st  of  May  an  agreement  was  concluded  between 
the  provinces  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  New 
York  by  which  each  was  to  furnish  its  quota  of  troops 
for  the  expedition.!  At  the  urgent  request  of  New 
England  the  command  of  the  expedition  was  conferred 
upon  John  Winthrop. 

A  naval  expedition  was  also  fitted  out  by  the  Col- 
onists and  sent  against  Quebec,  under  command  of  Sir 
William  Phipps. 

The  army  under  Major-General  Winthrop,  number- 
ing eight  hundred  men,  left  Albany  about  the  1st  of 
August  and  proceeded  on  its  march  as  far  as  Wood 
Creek.  There  Winthrop  waited  a  few  days  for  the 
promised  reinforcements  of  Indians,  but  these  not  ar- 
riving, nor  furnishing  a  supply  of  canoes  to  cross  the 
lake,  as  they  had  promised  to  do,  he  called  a  council  of 
war,  who  decided  it  inexpedient  to  proceed  further. 
The  expedition  was  therefore  abandoned  and  the  troops 
returned  to  Albany,  where  they  were  disbanded. 

Attached  to  Winthrop's  army  was  Captain  John 
Schuyler  of  Albany,  a  man  of  great  bravery  and  energy 
of  character  and  of  considerable  experience  in  border 
warfare.  Schuyler  was  dissatisfied  with  the  decision  of 
the  council  of  war,  which  he  considered  weak  and  cow- 

*  Documentary  History  of  Yew  York. 

t  New  York  was  to  furnish  four  hundred  men;  Massachusetts,  one 
hundred  and  sixty;  Connecticut,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five,  and 
Plymouth,  sixty.  Maryland  promised  one  hundred  men. 


40  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

urdly,  and  declared  the  campaign  should  not  be  aban- 
doned so  easily.  Beating  up  for  volunteers  he  soon 
gathered  around  him  a  little  band  of  twenty-nine  fol- 
lowers, each  as  bold  and  daring  as  himself.  To  these 
he  added  one  hundred  and  twenty  Indians  who  had  ar- 
rived at  the  cam})  under  command  of  Juriaen,  called  the 
ferocious,  and  having  loaded  a  number  of  canoes  with 
provisions,  proceeded,  on  the  13th  of  August,  as  far  as 
Canaghsionie  (probably  Whitehall)  where  he  encamped 
for  the  night.  The  next  day  he  again  embarked  with 
his  party  and  on  the  21st  of  the  month  reached  a  point 
"one  mile  below  the  sand  bank  of  Chambly."*  In  the 
course  of  the  journey  one  of  the  Indians  died.  "  He 
died  of  sickness,"  adds  the  brave  Captain,  evidently 
surprised  that  so  quiet  a  death  should  be  reserved  for 
a  Mohawk. 

On  the  22d  the  little  party,  having  first  secreted 
their  canoes  and  provisions,  started  by  hind  for  Laprai- 
rie,  which  lay  on  the  south  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
River  about  fifteen  miles  distant.  While  Schuyler  was 
slowly  approaching  Laprairie,  the  inhabitants  of  that 
place  were  having  a  gala  day  in  honor  of  their  Gov- 
ernor, the  brave  old  Frontenac,  who  having  learned 
from  his  scouts  that  Winthrop's  army  had  retired,  was 
marching  with  eight  hundred  men  to  Quebec,  to  repel 
the  threatened  attack  of  Sir  William  Phipps  in  that 
quarter.  Little  did  the  quiet  husbandmen  imagine,  as 
they  sat  near  their  doors  at  evening,  chatting  over  the 
stirring  incidents  of  the  day,  repeating  to  listening  ears 
the  wonders  each  had  seen,  and,  perhaps,  rejoicing  at  a 
security  which  the  departure  of  the  troops  seemed  to 
confirm,  that  a  band  of  fierce  and  determined  warriors 
lay  secreted  under  the  trees  which  bordered  the  little 
.settlement,  ready  with  the  morrow's  sun  to  bring  de- 
struction and  death  about  those  rude  but  happy  homes. 

*  Schuyler  in  his  journal  of  this  expedition  gives-  the  Indian  names 
of  several  localities  on  Lnke  Champlain.  On  the  16th  the  party,  he 
tells  us,  reached  Kanomloro,  and,  traveling  all  night,  arrived  the  next 
morning  at  Oyhraro.  The  next  night  they  travelled  as  far  as  Ogha- 
ronde,  where  "  they  determined  by  the  majorities,  to  fall  upon  Fort 
Laprairie." 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  41 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  Schuyler  sent  for- 
ward his  spies,  who  soon  returned  with  the  informa- 
tion that  the  inhabitants  were  leaving  the  fort  to  go 
into  the  fields  to  cut  corn.  It  was  Schuyler's  intention 
to  wait  quietly  until  they  reached  the  fields  and  then 
place  his  party  between  them  and  the  fort,  so  as  to  in- 
tercept their  retreat,  but,  through  the  eagerness  of 
some  young  savages,  the  war  cry  was  prematurely 
raised  and  both  the  English  and  Indians  rushed  to 
the  attack  without  waiting  for  orders.  The  French, 
taking  alarm,  hastily  retired  to  the  fort,  but  not  until 
six  of  their  number  were  killed  and  nineteen  taken 
prisoners.  As  soon  as  the  prisoners  were  secured  the 
assailants  fell  upon  the  cattle  feeding  around  the  fort 
and  killed  one  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  oxen  and 
cows.  They  also  set  fire  to  all  the  houses  and  barns 
outside  the  fort,  which  were  speedily  consumed.  The 
English  wished  to  attack  the  fort  itself,  but  did  not  do 
so,  as  the  Indians  refused  to  aid  them.  The  forts  at 
Montreal  and  Chambly  now  answering  the  alarm  guns 
fired  at  haprairie,  Schuyler  hastened  his  departure, 
lest  his  retreat  might  be  cut  off ;  but,  before  leaving, 
his  Indians  burned  the  body  of  one  of  their  number, 
who  had  been  killed  during  the  affray. 

The  party  retreated  about  seven  miles,  when  they 
halted  for  dinner.  The  same  evening  they  reached  the 
river  and  embarked  in  their  canoes.  The  next  day 
they  went  as  far  as  the  ruins  of  old  Fort  St.  Anne  and, 
on  the  loth,  stopped  on  the  long  sand  point  near  Port 
Kent,  where  they  killed  two  elk.  The  next  day's  jour- 
ney took  them  to  a  place  which  Schuyler  calls  "  The 
Little  Stone  Fort,"*  from  which  a  canoe  was  sent  for- 
ward with  the  news.  On  the  27th  the  party  reached 
the  mouth  of  Wood  Creek,  and  on  the  31st  arrived  with 
their  prisoners  at  Albany,  f 

During  the  winter  of  1690-91  the  New  5Tork  Colonists 

*This  was  probably  a  sligbt  work  thrown  up  byCapt.  de  Warm  at 
Crown  Point  the  March  previous,  or  one  erected  at  Ticonderoga  by 
Capt.  Sanders  Glen  while  he  was  waiting  there  for  the  advance  of 
Winthrop's  array. 

t  Journal  of  Capt.  John  Schuyler. 


42  HISTORY  -OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

were  too  much  occupied  with  their  internal  disputes  to 
give  much  attention  to  military  affairs.  In  the  spring 
however  their  difficulties  ceased,  and  active  measures 
were  at  once  adopted  to  carry  on  the  war  with  Canada. 
The  frontier  posts  of  Albany,  Schenectudy  and  Half- 
Moon  were  repaired,  the  Militia  reorganized  and  a  con- 
ference held  with  the  Five  Nations,  with  whom  the 
French  emissaries  had  begun  to  tamper.  The  Indians 
not  only  promised  to  abandon  all  negotiations  with  the 
French,  but  pledged  themselves  to  make  Avar  upon  that 
people  so  long  as  they  should  live.  An  expedition  was 
now  planned  against  Canada ;  the  English  Colonists 
wisely  concluding  that  the  only  way  to  secure  the  co- 
operation of  the  savages  was  to  give  them  active  em- 
ployment. 

On  the  22d  day  of  June,  1691,  Major  Philip  Schuy- 
ler  left  Albany  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
English  and  three  hundred  Indians,  and  crossing  Lake 
Champlain  by  the  route  taken  by  his  brother  Capt. 
John  Schuyler,  appeared,  unexpectedly,  before  Fort  La- 
prairie,  which  he  carried  by  surprise,  killing  several  of 
its  defenders.  DeCallieres,  then  Governor  of  Montreal, 
hastily  collected  eight  hundred  troops  and  crossed  the 
river,  when  the  English  retreated  to  the  woods,  where 
they  met  and  destroyed  a  small  detachment  sent  for- 
ward to  cut  off  their  retreat.  A  short  time  afterwards, 
M.  de  Valrenes  coming  up  with  a  large  force,  a  severe 
and  desperate  battle  was  fought  between  the  two  par- 
ties. Schuyler  posted  his  men  behind  trees,  and,  for 
an  hour  and  a  half,  withstood  the  fire  and  repelled  the 
charges  of  the  Canadian  troops.  In  this  engagement 
the  loss  of  the  English  was  trifling,  while  not  less  than 
two  hundred  of  the  French  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Schuyler,  fearing  to  be  overpowered  by  superior  num- 
bers, now  hastily  withdrew  and  returned  to  Albany. 

The  favorable  result  of  this  expedition  gave  a  new 
impetus  to  the  warlike  temper  of  the  Iroquois  and, 
strengthened  their  friendship  for  the  English.  These 
Indians,  for  the  next  two  years,  so  harassed  the  French 
that  De  Frontenac  determined  again  to  invade  their 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  43 

territory.  For  this  purpose  he  collected  a  force  of  six 
or  seven  hundred  French  and  Indians  and,  about  the 
middle  of  January,  1693,  set  out  from  Montreal,  for  the 
Mohawk  valley.  The  march,  upon  the  frozen  surface 
of  the  lake  and  through  the  deep  snows  of  the  forest, 
was  attended  with  great  hardships,  yet  such  was  the 
energy  of  the  invaders  that  early  in  February  they 
passed  Schenectady  unobserved,  and  falling  suddenly 
upon  the  first  Mohawk  village,  killed  many  of  the  iiu 
habitants  and  took  more  than  three  hundred  prisoners. 
As  soon  as  the  intelligence  of  this  incursion  reached 
Albany,  Major  Schuyler  collected  a  party  of  about  three 
hundred  men,  principally  Indians,  and  started  in  pur- 
suit of  the  assailants,  who,  according  to  their  custom, 
had  retreated  immediately  after  the  attack.  Schuyler 
continued  the  pursuit  as  far  as  the  Hudson,  and  would 
have  overtaken  the  enemy  had  not  a  severe  storm  of 
snow  and  wind  prevented  his  crossing  the  river.  As 
it  was  he  succeeded  in  recapturing  about  fifty  of  the 
prisoners,  with  whom  he  returned  to  Albany.  The 
sufferings  of  those  engaged  in  this  expedition  were  so 
great  that  the  Indians  fed  upon  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  French  were  compelled  to  eat  their  own 
shoes.* 

Although  the  contest  between  the  French  and  Eng- 
lish continued  several  years  longer,  this  was  the  last 
expedition  of  any  importance  which  entered  the  valley 
of  Lake  Champlain  during  this  war.  The  peace  of 
Ryswick,  in  1697,  was  soon  followed  by  a  formal  treaty 
between  the  French  and  the  Five  Nations. 

*  Gordon. 


44  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Indian  Depredations  on  the  Frontier — Forts  built  by  the  New  York 
Colonists  on  Wood  Creek — Two  Expeditions  organized  against 
Canada — Condition  of  the  Country  about  Lake  Champlain — The 
French  build  a  Fort  at  Crown  Point — French  Grants  on  the  Lake 
— Troubles  among  the  New  York  Colonists — Attempt  to  settle  the 
Lands  lying  between  the  Hudson  River  and  Lake  Champiain. 

THE  history  of  events  connected  with  Lake  Champlain 
brings  us  down  to  the  year  1709.  During  "  Queen 
Anne's  War,"  which  commenced  in  1702,  the  frontier 
towns  of  New  England  were  severely  scourged  by  ma- 
rauding parties  from  Canada.  Deerfield  was  destroyed 
in  1704  by  a  party  of  three  hundred  French  and  In- 
dians under  command  of  the  inhuman  De  Rouville.* 
In  1708,  a  party  of  four  hundred  men,  including  savages, 
crossed  the  almost  impracticable  mountains  of  Ver- 
mont and  New  Hampshire,  and  attacked  the  little  fort, 
and  village  of  Haverhill  which,  after  a  sharp  defence, 
they  carried  and  reduced  to  ashes. 

These  and  other  repeated  and  unprovoked  aggres- 
sions at  length  aroused  the  British  Ministry  who,  in 
1709,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  colonists,  adopt- 
ed a  plan  for  the  conquest  of  the  French  possessions  in 
America.  This  plan  contemplated  an  attack  by  water 
upon  Quebec,  whilst  fifteen  hundred  men,  from  New 
York  and  the  New  England  Provinces,  were  to  attempt 
Montreal  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  New  York  entered  cordially  into  the  scheme. 
They  not  only  furnished  their  quota  of  troops,  but  sev- 
eral volunteer  companies  were  organized  to  join  the 

*  This  expedition  followed  the  route  up  Lake  Champlain  to  the 
Winooski  and  then  ascended  that  river  and  crossed  the  mountains  to 
the  Connecticut.  On  their  return  they  secreted  the  "  bell  of  St. 
Regis  "  in  the  sands  of  Burlington,  where  it  remained  until  the  follow- 
ing spring,  when  it  was  taken  to  Canada. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  45 

expedition.  The  Five  Nations,  through  the  exertions 
of  Col.  Peter  Schuyler,  were  induced  to  take  up  the 
hatchet  and  to  send  five  hundred  warriors  into  the  field. 
New  York,  also,  at  her  own  expense,  opened  a  road 
from  Albany  to  Lake  Champlain,  which  greatly  facili- 
tated the  movements  of  the  troops  and  the  transporta- 
tion of  supplies. 

This  road  commenced  near  the  present  village  of 
Schuylerville  and  ran  up  the  east  side  of  the  river  to 
Fort  Edward,  and  thence  by  the  way  of  Wood  Creek 
to  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain.  It  ran  the  whole  way 
through  a  dense  forest.  Along  the  route  three  forts 
were  erected;  one  on  Wood  Creek  near  the  present 
village  of  Fort  Ann  ;  another  at  the  commencement  of 
the  carrying  place  between  the  Hudson  River  and 
the  head  of  Wood  Creek,  which  was  at  first  called  Fort 
Nicholson  ;  and  a  third  on  the  summit  of  one  of  the  hills 
opposite  Schuylerville.  These  forts  were  built  of  tim- 
ber and  were  surrounded  by  palisades  so  constructed  as 
to  protect  the  garrisons  from  the  fire  of  musketry.  One 
hundred  bateaux  and  a  large  number  of  canoes  were 
built  at  the  mouth  of  Wood  Creek  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  troops  across  Lake  Champlain.  All  the  ar- 
rangements for  the  campaign  being  complete,  the  army 
left  Albany  under  the  command  of  Col.  Nicholson  and 
encamped  at  Fort  Ann,  where  they  awaited  intelligence 
of  the  arrival  of  the  expedition  destined  for  the  attack 
of  Quebec. 

These  demonstrations  on  the  part  of  the  English  Col- 
onists created  great  alarm  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Canada,  who  were  but  ill  prepared  to  resist  the  large 
force  which  threatened  both  extremes  of  the  Colony. 
A  council  of  war  was  called  by  M.  de  Vaudreuil,  under 
whose  advice  a  force  of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  sent 
to  Lake  Champlain  to  oppose  the  advance  of  Nichol- 
son's army ;  but  a  misunderstanding  between  the 
Governor  General  and  some  of  his  principal  officers 
embarrassed  the  enterprise  and  ultimately  caused  the 
army  to  return. 

The  two  expeditions  against  Canada  proved  equally 


46  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMFL.AIK. 

abortive.  The  fleet  destined  for  the  attack  of  Quebec 
was  sent  to  Lisbon  instead,  to  support  the  Portuguese 
against  the  power  of  Castile,  while  Nicholson's  army, 
discouraged  by  delays  and  almost  decimated  by  a  malig- 
nant and  fatal  malady  which  broke  out  in  the  camp,* 
returned  to  Albany,  where  they  were  soon  afterwards 
disbanded. 

In  1711  preparations  were  again  made  by  the  Colon- 
ists for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  Colonel  Nicholson, 
under  whom  served  Colonels  Schuyler,  Whitney  and 
Tngoldsby,  mustered  at  Albany  a  strong  force  compris- 
ing two  thousand  English,  one  thousand  Germans  and 
one  thousand  Indians,  who,  on  the  28th  of  August, 
commenced  their  march  towards  Lake  Champlain, 
taking  the  Lake  George  route,  instead  of  the  unhealthy 
one  by  the  way  of  Wood  Creek,  which  had  proved  so 
fatal  to  the  troops  on  the  former  expedition.  At  the 
same  time  an  army  of  six  thousand  four  hundred  men, 
under  Brigadier  General  Hill,  sailed  from  Boston  on 
board  of  sixty-eight  transports,  under  convoy  of  Sir 
Hovedon  Walker,  for  a  simultaneous  attack  on  Quebec.f 

As  soon  as  M.  de  Vaudreuil  received  intelligence  of 
these  movements  he  hastened  to  Quebec,  and,  having 
strengthened  its  defences,  confided  to  M.  de  Bou- 
court  the  responsible  duty  of  resisting  the  debarka- 
tion of  the  English  troops,  and  then  returned  to  the 
rescue  of  Montreal.  But  the  plans  of  the  invading 
array  were  destined  to  be  again  defeated.  The  British 
Admiral  had  neglected  the  warnings  of  an  experienced 
French  navigator,  named  Paradis,  who  accompanied 
him,  and  approached  too  near  a  small  island  in  the 
narrow  and  dangerous  channel  of  the  Traverse.  While 
embarrassed  amid  its  rocks,  a  sudden  squall  scattered 
the  fleet,  driving  eight  of  the  vessels  on  the  shore, 

*  This  sickness  is  said  to  have  been  caused  by  the  Indians  who 
poisoned  the  waters  of  the  Creek.  But  Doctor  Fitch  in  his  "  Survey 
of  Washington  County  "  questions  the  truth  of  this  accusation,  and 
presumes  the  malady  to  have  been  a  malignant  dysentery,  brought  on 
by  the  troops  drinking  the  stagnant  water  which  flowed  into  the 
creek  from  the  surrounding  marshes. 

t  Gordon. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  47 

where  they  were  wrecked.*  Chai'levoix  says  nearly 
three  thousand  men  were  drowned,  whose  bodies  were 
afterwards  found  scattered  along  the  banks  of  the  river. 
After  this  severe  disaster  the  Admiral  bore  away  for 
Cape  Breton,  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned.  The 
advance  corps  of  Nicholson's  army  had  scarcely  reached 
the  head  of  Lake  George,  when  intelligence  arrived  of 
the  failure  of  the  northern  expedition.  Orders  were  at 
once  given  for  their  return  to  Albany. 

These  two  abortive  attempts  upon  Canada  cost  the 
Province  of  New  York,  alone,  over  thirty  thousand 
pounds  sterling.  Their  failure  disheartened  the  Colon- 
ists and  chilled  for  a  time  the  affections  of  the  Five 
Nations,  who  began  to  look  upon  the  English  as  a  weak 
and  cowardly  people.  The  situation  of  the  New  York 
Colonists  was  now  most  critical.  Clouds  of  adversity 
lowered  darkly  over  the  Province.  The  river  Indians 
became  restless  and  evinced  a  strong  and  growing  dis- 
position to  break  their  allegiance  ;  the  Five  Nations 
listened  favorably  to  the  renewed  propositions  of  peace 
from  the  French,  who  threatened  an  invasion  of  the 
Province  by  sea  and  land.  Happily  these  impending 
evils  were  averted  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  which  was 
concluded  in  the  spring  of  1713.  By  this  treaty  the 
French  King  released  his  nominal  sovereignty  over  the 
Iroquois  and  recognized  their  country  as  subject  to  the 
dominion  of  Great  Britain. 

As  yet  no  settlements  had  been  permanently  establish- 
ed in  the  valley  of  Lake  Champlain.  Fort  St.  Anne,  built 
in  1665,  had  been  occupied  for  a  few  years  and  then 
abandoned.  The  "  little  Stone  Fort "  mentioned  by 
Schuyler  in  1690,  was  a  structure  of  no  importance 
except  as  it  served  for  the  immediate  protection  of 
those  by  whom  it  was  erected.  Fort  Ann,  erected  by 
Colonel  Nicholson  on  Wood  Creek  in  1709,  was  burned 
by  him  on  the  return  of  his  army  to  Albany  in  1711. 
Kalm  saw  the  remains  of  the  burnt  palisades,  when  he 
passed  there  thirty-eight  years  afterwards.  In  1713 
Fort  Saratoga  was  the  nearest  post  to  the  lake  on  the 
south,  and  Forts  Laprairie  and  Chambly  on  the  north. 
*  Warburton,  Vol.  1. 


48  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

No  settlements  were  commenced  within  the  present 
limits  of  Vermont  until  after  the  erection  of  Fort  Duni- 
mer,  on  the  Connecticut  river,  in  1724. 

We  have  already  seen  that,  from  the  first  settlement 
of  the  country,  Lake  Champlain  had  been  used  as  a 
thoroughfare  through  which  predatory  excursions  were 
directed  against  both  the  French  and  English  frontiers. 
Its  control  was  therefore  a  matter  of  great  importance. 
No  movements  was  however  made  to  obtain  the  com- 
mand of  this  important  avenue  until  the  year  1731, 
when  the  Marquis  de  Beauharnois,  then  Governor 
General  of  Canada,  erected  a  fort  at  Crown  Point, 
which  he  called  St.  Frederic,  in  honor  of  Frederic 
Maurepas  the,  then,  French  Secretary  of  State.  The 
English  claimed  the  title  to  the  territory  on  both  sides 
of  the  lake,  by  virtue  of  their  treaties  with  the  Five 
Nations,  and  strongly  remonstrated  against,  but  took 
no  steps  to  prevent  its  unauthorized  occupation  by  the 
French.  The  first  work  erected  by  the  French  was  a 
small  stockade  which  could  accommodate  a  garrison  of 
30  men  only.  This  was  replaced  in  1734  by  a  "  redoubt 
a  machi  coulis,"  sufficient  fora  garrison  of  120  men.  It 
was  subsequently  enlarged,  and  in  1742  was,  with  the 
exception  of  Quebec,  the  strongest  work  held  by  the 
French  in  Canada.* 

"Fort  St.  Frederic,"  says  Kalm,  "  is  built  on  a  rock 
consisting  of  black  lime  slates,f  and  is  nearly  quad- 
rangular, has  high  and  thick  walls,  made  of  the  same 
limestone,  of  which  there  is  a  quarry  about  half  a 
mile  from  the  fort.  On  the  eastern  part  of  the  fort  is 
a  high  tower,  which  is  proof  against  bomb  shells,  pro- 
vided with  very  thick  and  substantial  walls,  and  well 
stored  with  cannon  from  the  bottom  almost  to  the  very 
top,  and  the  Governor  lives  in  the  tower.  In  the 
terre  plain e  of  the  fort  is  a  well  built  little  church  and 
houses  of  stone  for  the  officers  and  soldiers.  There 
are  sharp  rocks  on  all  sides  towards  the  land  beyond 
cannon  shot  from  the  fort,  but  among  them  are  some 

*  Paris  document  iu  Colonial  History, 
t  Chazy  Limestone — Emmons. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIM.  49 

which  are  as  high  as  the  walls  of  the  fort  and  very 
near  them.  Within  one  or  two  musket  shots  to  the 
east  of  the  fort  is  a  windmill,  built  of  stone,  with  very 
thick  walls,  and  most  of  the  flour,  which  is  wanted  to 
supply  the  fort,  is  ground  here.  This  windmill  is  so 
constructed  as  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  redoubt  and 
at  the  top  of  it  are  five  or  six  small  pieces  of  cannon."* 
Subsequently  a  trench  or  wide  ditch  was  dug  around 
the  fort,  on  the  land  side,  enclosing  the  hill  referred  to 
by  Kalm.  This  trench  commenced  at  the  water's  edge 
about  two  rods  north  and  terminated  about  fifteen  rods 
south  of  the  fort.  Its  greatest  distance  from  the  fort, 
in  the  rear,  was  thirty  rods.  An  enclosure  was  also 
erected  about  twenty-five  rods  north-west  of  the  fort 
which  reached  the  water's  edge  and  surrounded  several 
buildings  used  for  soldier's  quarters.! 

Soon  after  the  erection  of  the  fort  a  settlement  of 
considerable  size  was  formed  about  it,  on  both  sides  of 
the  lake,  composed,  principally,  of  the  families  of  old 
soldiers  who  had  been  paid  off  and  discharged  from 
service  The  houses  of  some  of  the  settlers  were  con- 
venient and  comfortable,  but  the  majority  lived  in 
mere  cabins  built  of  boards.  To  each  soldier  in  service 
was  allotted  a  small  piece  of  ground  near  the  walls  of 
the  fort,  which  was  cultivated  as  a  garden,  and  occa- 
sionally occupied  as  a  summer  residence.* 

A  small  village  stood  about  half  a  mile  southwest  of 
the  fort,  and  one-half  mile  further  south  was  a  hamlet, 
containing  four  houses,  surrounded  by  wheat  fields.f 

The  boats  used  by  the  inhabitants  were  of  three 
kinds;  bark  canoes,  dugouts  or  canoes  made  of  a  log 
of  wood  hollowed  out,  and  bateaux.  The  last  mentioned 
were  constructed  with  flat  bottoms  of  oak  and  sides  of 
pine,  and  were  used  for  the  transportation  of  troops  or 
supplies  upon  the  lake.  When  Kalm  visited  the  fort, 
in  1749,  a  yacht  or  large  sail  vessel  made  regular  trips 
between  that  place  and  St.  Johns  in  Canada.^ 

*  Kalm's  Travels  in  1749. 

t  Journal  of  the  New  Hampshire  Scout. 

|  Kalm    says  this  was  the  first  sail  vessel   built  on   the  lake. 


50  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Until  1759  St.  Frederic  was  the  seat  of  French  power 
on  the  lake.  Here  was  a  rallying  point  for  the  fierce 
Abenaquis  from  the  St.  Francis,  the  Arundacks  of  the 
fertile  Ottawa,  and  the  warlike  Wyandots  of  the  west 
— drawn  together  by  a  common  love  of  revenge  or  the 
hope  of  plunder.  Here  the  ferocious  Outagamis,  the 
restless  Algonquin  and  the  vindictive  Huron  met  to 
recount  their  deeds  of  horrid  barbarity.  It  was  a 
strange  and  varied  scene  often  presented  at  this 
frontier  post.  At  one  moment  would  be  heard  the 
vesper  bell  of  the  little  chapel  calling  the  rude  but 
virtuous  husbandman,  the  scarred  veteran  of  France 
and  the  voluble  Canadian  to  their  evening  prayers,  while 
at  the  next,  the  rocky  shore  would  echo  to  the  loud 
whoop  of  the  merciless  savage,  returning  from  some 
successful  attack  upon  the  neighboring  settlements. 
Long  had  the  English  Colonists  cause  to  regret  the 
want  of  vigilance  and  forecast  on  the  part  of  their 
rulers,  which  permitted  the  French  to  seize  and  retain 
this,  controlling  position  on  the  lake. 

We  have  no  data  by  which  to  ascertain  the  exact  pop- 
ulation of  the  French  settlements  around  St.  Frederic  ; 
but  it  probably  at  no  time  exceeded  six  or  eight  hun- 
dred, exclusive  of  the  garrison  at  the  fort.  The  period  of 
the  existence  of  these  settlements  was  confined  to  the 
twenty-eight  years  of  French  ascendency  on  the  lake. 
Prior  to  1731,  the  borders  of  the  lake,  in  every  direc- 
tion, were  wild  and  uncultivated;  no  building  stood 
upon  its  shores,  not  an  acre  of  its  majestic  forest  had 
been  cleared,  nor  had  its  fertile  soil  been  touched  by 
the  hand  of  the  husbandman. 

The  Governor  of  Canada  did  not  confine  the  encroach- 
ments on  Lake  Champlain  to  the  vicinity  of  Crown 
Point,  for,  soon  after  the  erection  of  Fort  St.  Frederic, 
he  issued  grants,  for  large  tracts  of  land  lying  on  both 

In  September,  1736,  M.  de  Beauharnois  asked  permission  of  the 
King  to  construct  a  sloop  on  the  lake  if  it  should  be  ascertained  to 
be  navigable  for  sloops.  The  King  authorized  the  building  of  sloops, 
but  added  "  before  hazarding  their  construction  it  will  be  well  to 
cause  the  lake  to  be  surveyed,  with  a  view  to  become  acquainted 
with  the  rocks  to  be  met  there.' 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  51 

sides  of  the  lake,  to  several  persons  holding  office  under 
the  French  King.  The  first  of  these  grants  was  made 
to  Sieur  Pean,  Major  of  the  town  and  castle  of  Quebec, 
on  the  10th  day  of  April,  1733,  and  embraced  a  tract 
"  two  leagues  or  two  and  a  half  in  front,  by  three  in 
deptli  along  the  river  Chambly  and  Lake  Champlain, 
together  with  the  river  Chazy  included  therein  and  Isle 
a  la  Motte."*  Two  days  afterwards  another  grant  was 
issued  to  Sieur  St.  Vincent,  ensign  of  Foot,  for  "  two 
leagues  in  front  by  three  leagues  in  depth  on  lake 
Champlain,f"  and  another,  on  the  20th  of  the  same 
month,  to  Sieur  la  Gauchetiere,  Captain  of  Marines,  of 
"  two  leagues  front  by  three  leagues  deep  on  said 
lake."  $ 

On  the  7th  of  July,  1734,  a  grant  was  issued  to  Sieur 
Contrecour  Jr.,  ensign  of  Infantry,  for  a  tract  of  land 
which  was  described  as  "beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Riviere  Aux  Loutres  (Otter  Creek,  Vt.)  one  league  and 
a  half  above  and  one  league  and  a  half  below,  making 
t\vo  leagues  in  front  by  three  in  depth,  together  with  so 
much  of  said  river  as  is  found  included  therein  with 
three  islets  which  are  in  front  of  said  concession  and 
depend  thereon."  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month, 
another  grant  was  made  to  Sieur  de  Beauvis  of  lands 
"two  leagues  in  front  and  three  in  depth  on  Lake 
Champlain  together  with  the  peninsula  which  is  found 
to  be  in  front  of  said  land."§  In  the  same  month  an- 
other was  issued  to  Sieur  de  la  Periere,  "beginning 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Ouynouski  (Winooski)  one 
league  above  and  one  below,  making  two  leagues  front 
by  three  in  depth,  with  the  extent  of  said  river  which 
will  be  found  comprehended  therein,  together  with 
the  islands  and  battures  adjacent."  Also  one  to  Sieur 
Douville,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1736  for  lands  on  the 
east  side  of  the  lake,  "  two  leagues  front  by  three 
leagues  deep;  "||  and  another  on  the  13th  of  June, 

*  Now,  northern  part  of  the  town  of  Champlain,  X.  Y. 

(•  Remainder  of  Champlain. 

t  In  town  of  Chazy,  N.  Y. 

§  Now  parts  of  Swanton  and  Highgate,  Vt. 

II  Iii  town  of  Georgia,  Vt. 


52  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

1737,  to  Sieur  Robart,  King's  Store-keeper  at  Montreal, 
"  three  leagues  front  by  two  leagues  in  depth  on  the 
west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  taking  in  going  dv>wn 
one  league  below  the  river  Boquet  and  in  going  up  two 
and  a  half  above  said  river."  The  island  of  North 
Hero  or  Isle  Longue  was  granted  to  Contrecour,  Cap- 
tain of  Infantry,  and  M.  Raimbault  received  a  large 
concession  north  and  adjoining  the  lands  granted  to 
M.  de  la  Periere. 

These  grants  were  issued  subject  to  forfeiture  in  case 
the  lands  were  not  settled  and  improved  within  a  cer- 
tain time.  This  condition  not  having  been  fulfilled, 
all  but  the  two  last  mentioned  were  re-united  to  the 
King's  domains  by  an  ordinance  of  the  Governor  and 
Intendant  of  Canada  of  the  10th  of  May,  1741.  The 
grantees  gave  various  reasons  why  their  lands  had  not 
been  settled  within  the  prescribed  time.  Pean  could 
find  no  farmers  to  place  upon  his  seigniory,  St.  Vincent 
had  been  absent  on  the  King's  service,  and  Contrecour 
had  offered  very  advantageous  inducements  to  settlers, 
including  a  bonus  of  three  hundred  livres,  but  without 
success.  La  Fontaine  promised  to  go  on  to  his  grant 
immediately  with  three  men,  to  build  there,  and  was 
willing  to  furnish  grain  and  money  to  any  who  should 
commence  a  settlement.  Sieur  Robart  had  surveyed 
his  lands  and  had  neglected  no  inducements  for  young 
men  to  settle  upon  them.  These  excuses  were  not 
satisfactory  to  the  Government  Officers.  They  however, 
declared  that  patents  would  be  re-issued  to  any  who 
should  place  settlers  on  the  land  within  one  year  from 
that  time.  This  was  not  done  ;  but  soon  after  settle- 
ments were  formed  near  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Cnazy 
river  and  at  Windmill  Point,*  which  were  occupied  for 
a  short  time  and  then  abandoned. 

*  The  first  houses  I  saw  after  leaving  Fort  St.  Frederic  were  some 
on  the  western  side  of  the  lake,  about  ten  French  miles  from  St. 
Johns,  in  which  the  French  lived  before  the  last  war  and  which  they 
then  abandoned.  *  *  *  A  Windmill,  built  of  stone,  stands  on  *, 
the  east  side  of  the  lake,  on  a  projecting  piece  of  ground.  Some 
Frenchmen  lived  near  to  it.  From  this  mill  to  Fort  St.  Johns  they 
reckon  eight  French  miles.  The  English,  with  their  Indians,  have 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  53 

The  lands  originally  granted  to  Pean  were,  in  1752, 
conceded  to  Sieur  Bedon,  Councillor  in  the  Superior 
Council  of  Quebec,  and  by  him  afterwards  transferred 
to  M.  de  Beaujeu,  who  owned  a  seigniory  adjoining  on 
the  north.  In  April,  1743  and  1745,  two  patents  of 
concession  were  issued  to  Sieur  Hocquart,  Councillor  of 
State  and  Intendant  of  the  naval  forces  at  Brest,  for  a 
large  tract  embraced  in  the  present  towns  of  Panton, 
Addison  and  Bridport,  Vt.,  which  Hocquart  conveyed 
to  Michael  Chartier  de  Lotbiniere  in  1764,  and  in  Nov- 
ember 1758,  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  Governor 
General  of  Canada,  granted  to  the  same  De  Lotbiniere 
the  seigniory  of  Alainville  embracing  over  four  leagues 
front  by  five  leagues  depth  and  lying  partly  on  Lake 
George  and  partly  on  Lake  Champlain. 

The  aggregate  of  these  concessions  embraced  more 
than  eight  hundred  square  miles  of  territory.  No  perma- 
nent settlements  were  however  made  under  any  of  the 
grants,  except  on  parts  of  the  seigniories  of  Hocquart 
and  Alainville,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga.  After  the  conquest  of  Can- 
ada the  grantees  petitioned  for  a  confirmation  of  their 
titles,  but  this  the  British  Government  refused,  at  the 
same  time,  however,  declaring  that  the  claimants  should 
be  entitled  to  so  much  of  the  concessions  as  should  be 
proportionate  to  the  improvements  made  on  them,  at 
the  rate  of  fifty  acres  for  every  three  acres  improved, 
provided  they  took  out  new  grants  for  the  same  under 
the  seal  of  the  Province  of  New  York,  subject  to  the 
usual  quit-rents.  No  new  grant  to  one  person  was  to 
exceed  twenty  thousand  acres,  nor  did  this  privilege 
extend  to  the  grants  of  La  Gauchetiere  and  others  an- 
nulled by  the  ordinance  of  the  10th  of  May,  1741. 

The  claimants  refused  the  smaller  grants  from  the 
Province  of  New  York,  and  declined  to  pay  the  re- 
quired quit-rents.  They  fell  back  upon  the  original 
title  of  the  French  King  who,  they  contended,  first  dis- 
covered the  country  and  had  held  undisturbed  posses- 
burned  the  houses  here  several  times,  but  the  mill  remained  unhurt 
— Kalm  in  1749, 


64  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

sion  of  it  to  the  year  1758.  To  this  the  authorities  of 
New  York  replied,  that  the  country  south  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  River  belonged  originally  to  the  Five  Na- 
tions, from  whom  it  passed  to  the  English  by  virtue  of 
a  treaty  made  as  early  as  1683.  That  the  treaty  of 
Utrecht  recognized  the  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain 
over  these  nations,  and  that  the  possession  of  the 
French  at  Crown  Point  was  an  encroachment  on  British 
soil,  which  could  confer  no  title  to  the  French  King. 
They  also  referred  to  an  ancient  grant  (1696)  to  God- 
frey Dellius  of  a  large  tract  along  the  head  of  the  lake, 
extending  upwards  of  twenty  miles  to  the  north  of 
Crown  Point,  as  proof  that  the  English  had  claimed 
the  lake  to  be  within  their  jurisdiction.  But  the 
strongest  position  taken  against  these  claims  and  which, 
considering  the  weakness  of  the  French  title,  induced 
the  British  Government  to  disaffirm  them,  was  the 
fact  that  a  large  portion  of  the  lands  covered  by  the 
French  grants  were  then  held  by  old  officers  and  sol- 
diers of  the  provincial  army,  under  patents  issued 
under  the  seal  of  the  Province  of  New  York.* 

New  York  was  the  central  point  of  English  influence 
in  America.  It  held  the  keys  of  Canada  and  of  the 
great  western  lakes.  Within  its  limits  burned  the 
Council  Fire  of  the  Six  Nations,!  the  most  powerful 
confederacy  ever  formed  among  the  Indians  ;  whose 
sway  extended  west  to  the  Mississippi,  and  beyond  the 
Ohio  on  the  south.  But  though  strong  in  position, 
New  York  was  weak  in  power.  Its  history,  from  the 
death  of  Governor  Montgomery  in  1731,  to  the  close 
of  Mr.  Clinton's  administration  in  1753,  is  one  of 
almost  continued  distrust  and  contention  between  the 
Executive  and  the  Assembly.  In  this  war  of  party  the 
public  business  of  the  Province  was  neglected  and  the 
security  of  the  inhabitants  disregarded.  Occasionally, 
however,  the  Government  would  awake  from  its 
lethargy  and,  for  a  moment,  return  to  the  performance 

*For  interesting  documents  relating  to  the  French  Grants  on  Lake 
Champlaln  see  Documentary  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  1. 
tThe  Tuscaroras  joined  the  Confederacy  iu  1712. 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  56 

of  its  legitimate  duties.  During  one  of  these  periods 
of  quiet,  a  plan  was  projected  for  the  settlement  of  the 
wilderness  between  Lake  Cliamplain  and  the  Hudson 
River,  to  serve  as  a  check  upon  the  French  positions 
on  Lake  Champlain.  The  Governor  issued  a  proc- ' 
lamation,  describing  in  glowing  language,  the  beauty 
and  fertility  of  the  country,  and  offering  the  most  liberal 
terms  to  those  who  might  settle  there. 

Seduced  by  this  proclamation,  Captain  Langhlin 
Campbell  came  from  Scotland,  in  1737,  to  examine  the 
land,  and  was  so  well  satisfied  with  its  appearance  that 
he  returned  to  Isla,  sold  his  estate  and  brought  over, 
at  his  own  expense,  eighty-three  Protestant  families, 
comprising  four  hundred  and  twenty-three  adults  and 
many  children.  The  Governor  of  New  York  had 
promised  Campbell  a  grant  of  30,000  acres,  free  of  all 
charge,  except  those  of  survey  and  the  usual  quit-rents. 
But,  on  his  arrival,  the  mercenary  officers  of  Govern- 
ment refused  to  fulfill  this  engagement,  unless  they 
were  allowed  a  share  in  the  grant.  This  Campbell 
refused  to  give  them.  A  dispute  arising  between  him 
and  the  Government  on  this  account,  in  which  the  As- 
sembly joined  with  the  emigrants,  the  negotiations 
were  broken  off.  The  emigrants  were  saved  from 
starvation  by  enlisting  in  an  expedition  to  Carthagena, 
while  Campbell,  broken  down  in  spirits  and  fortune, 
sought  a  home  elsewhere. 

•  The  Colonists  long  had  cause  to  regret  the  folly  of 
the  Government  in  not  securing,  at  this  time,  the  set- 
tlement of  their  northern  frontier.  The  Protestant 
Highlanders,  brought  over  by  Campbell,  were  a  race 
of  hardy  and  industrious  people,  indued  by  nature 
and  habit  with  great  power  of  indurance.  They  would 
have  formed  a  bulwark  against  the  French,  who,  for 
twenty  years  afterwards,  retained  absolute  control  of 
the  lake  and  sent  out,  from  their  stronghold  at  Crown 
Point,  bands  of  marauders  to  plunder  and  devastate  the 
frontier  settlements.* 

*  The  fort  was  erected  by  the  French  at  Crown  Point,  as  much  for 
pff eusive  operations  as  for  defence.  • '  When,"  writes  M.  de  Beauhar- 


56  HISTORY    OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Sir  William  Johnson's  Expedition  against  Crown  Point — Battle  of 
Lake  George — The  French  fortify  Ticonderoga — Montcalm  attacks 
the  English  at  Lake  George — Massacre  at  Fort  William  Henry- 
Defeat  of  Abercrombie  at  Ticonderoga — English  Scouting  Parties — 
Putnam  in  trouble. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  repeated  depredations  of  the 
French  upon  the  northern  and  western  frontier,  no  at- 
tempt was  made  to  weaken  their  power  until  1755. 
On  the  14th  of  April  of  that  year,  the  Governors  of  the 
several  Provinces  met  in  conference  in  Virginia,  and 
determined  upon  the  plan  of  a  campaign;  by  which  to 
repel  the  encroachments  of  the  "French  upon  the 
northern  frontier.  This  campaign  contemplated  three 
separate  expeditions  ;  one  under  Sir  William  Johnson 
agai'nst  Crown  Point,*  another  under  Governor  Shirley, 
of  Massachusetts,  against  Niagara,  while  Major  Gen- 
eral Braddock,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  with  a  third, 
was  to  move  upon  the  French  Fort  on  the  Ohio. 

The  expedition  against  Crown  Point  was  to  be  com- 
posed of  provincial  troops  and  Indians.  But  the  six 
Nations  did  not  enter  into  the  scheme  with  their  usual 
spirit  and  alacrity.  They  were  dissatisfied  at  the  long 
continued  inaction  of  the  English,  which  contrasted 

nois  to  Louis  XV.,  "  When  in  possession  of  Crown  Point  the  road 
will  be  blocked  on  the  English  should -they  wish  to  pass  over  our 
territory,  and  we  will  be  in  a  position  to  fall  on  them  when  they  least 
expect  it.  Should  they  on  the  contrary  anticipate  us  in  this  estab- 
lishment we  could  never  show  ourselves  on  Lake  Champlain  except 
with  open  force,  nor  make  war  against  them  except  with  a  large 
army;  whilst,  seizing  on  this  fort  we  could  harass  them  by  small 
parties,  as  we  have  done  from  1689  to  1699  when  we  were  at  war 
with  the  Iroquois." 

*Sir  William  Johnson's  Commission  bears  date  the  16th  of  April, 
1755,  and  recites  that  the  troops  are  placed  under  his  command  "  to 
be  employed  in  an  attempt  to  erect  a  strong  Fortress  upon  an  emi- 
nence near  the  French  Fort  at  Crown  Point,  and  for  removing  the 
encroachments  of  the  French  on  His  Majesty's  land  there," 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  57 

unfavorably  with  the  activity  and  vigilance  of  the 
French.  Nor  had  the  Indians  been  backward  to  ex- 
press their  disapprobation.  "  You  are  desirous  that  we 
should  open  our  minds  and  our  hearts  to  you,"  said  the 
celebrated  Mohawk  Sachem  Hendrick,  at  one  of  their 
Councils.  "  Look  at  the  French :  they  are'  men,  they 
are  fortifying  everywhere ;  but  we  are  ashamed  to  say 
it,  you  are  like  women,  bare  and  open  without  fortifi- 
cations."* This  difference  in  the  condition  of  the  two 
countries  was  the  natural  result  of  the  characteristics 
and  genius  of  their  inhabitants.  The  English  colonists 
were  bold,  intelligent  and  self-dependent.  They  un- 
derstood and  cherished  the  principles  of  self  govern- 
ment. Jealous  of  their  rulers  they  kept  a  constant 
watch  upon  their  conduct,  refused  to  vote  supplies  un- 
less they  knew  the  money  would  be  appropriated  for 
the  public  good,  and  opposed  the  erection  of  forts  on 
the  frontier,  lest  their  guns  might  be  used  to  overawe 
the  people.  On  the  other  hand,  France  kept  her  colo- 
nies in  a  state  of  dependence  upon  the  Mother  Country. 
The  Canadians  were  allowed  neither  freedom  of  thought 
nor  action.  By  this  means  the  latter  became,  as  sub- 
jects, more  faithful  but  less  independent  than  their 
neighbors.!  France  directed  forts  to  be  built  in  the 
wilderness,  and  her  orders  were  obeyed.  England  also 
required  forts,  but,  instead  of  building  them,  the  colo- 
nists questioned  their  necessity,  objected  to  the  expense 
and  neglected  to  provide  means  for  their  erection. 

The  words  of  the  Mohawk  sachem  were  true. 
When  the  Governors  met  at  Alexandria,  England  had 
no  works  of  defence  upon  her  frontier,  while  the  French 
were  fortified  at  Du  quesne,  Niagara,  Crown  Point  and 
Beau-Sejour.  But  notwithstanding  their  avowed  re- 

*Documentary  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  2. 

t"  Let  us  beware  how  we  allow  the  establishment  of  manufac- 
tures in  Canada  ;  she  would  become  proud  and  mutinous  like  the 
English.  So  long  as  France  is  a  nui-sery  to  Canada,  let  not  the 
Canadians  be  allowed  to  trade,  but  kept  to  their  wandering  laborious 
life  with  the  savages,  and  to  their  military  services.  They  will  be 
less  wealthy,  but  more  brave  and  more  faithful  to  us." — Montcalm 
to  M.  de  fierryer  ;  1757. 


58  HISTORY.  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLATN. 

luctance,  the  Six  Nations  at  length  renewed  their  cov- 
enant of  friendship,  and  promised  to  support  the  Colo- 
nies in  the  approaching  struggle. 

Considerable  land  carriage  had  to  be  encountered  in 
passing  from  the  Hudson  River  to  Lake  Champhiin. 
The  portagt;  commenced  at  the  Hudson,  near  the  present 
village  of  Fort  Edward,  from  whence  two  routes  di- 
verged ;  one  leading  by  the  way  of  Fort  Ann  to  the 
mouth  of  Wood  Creek,  a  distance  of  twenty-four  miles  ; 
the  other  passing  by  the  way  of  Glen's  Falls  to  the 
head  of  Lake  George,  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles. 
From  the  first  route  a  third  diverged  near  Fort  Ann, 
which  led  to  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain  at  the  head 
of  South  Bay.  By  the  aid  of  boats  on  Wood  Creek 
the  portage  on  the  first  route  was  usually  reduced  to 
from  six  to  ten  miles.  This  portage  was  called  "  The 
great  carrying  place,"  and  was  selected  as  the  point 
of  rendezvous  for  General  Johnson's  Army,  from 
whence  it  was  to  move  to  Lake  Champlain. 

Early  in  July  Major-General  Phinehas  Lyman  arrived 
at  the  portage  with  about  six  hundred  New  England 
troops  and  commenced  the  erection  of  a  fort,  which  was 
afterwards  called  Fort  Edward,  in  honor  of  Edward, 
Duke  of  York,  the  grandson  of  the  English  sovereign. 
Johnson  reached  the  camp  on  the  14th  day  of  August, 
and  found  the  army  increased  to  two  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  fit  for  duty.  New  recruits  con- 
tinued to  arrive  so  that  the  General  found  himself,  by 
the  end  of  August,  at  the  head  of  thirty-one  hundred 
Provincials  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  Indians,*  By 
the  3rd  of  September  the  main  army  had  reached  the 
head  of  Lake  George,  while  a  great  number  of  teamsters 
were  engaged  in  dragging  six  hundred  boats  over  the 
portage,  to  be  used  for  the  transportation  of  troops 
across  that  lake.  Here  Johnson  halted  for  the  boats  to 
come  up,  and  to  announce  the  plan  of  his  future  opera- 
tions. "  I  propose,"  said  he,  "  to  go  down  this  lake 
with  a  part  of  the  army,  and  take  post  at  the  end  of  it, 
at  a  pass  called  Tionderogue,  there  wait  the  coming  up 
*  Johnson  to  Lt.-Gov.  De  Lancey. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  59 

of  the  rest  of  the  army  and  then  attack  Crown  Point."  * 
While  the  English  Commander  was  thus  planning  his 
advance  upon  Fort  St.  Frederic,  the  French  General  had 
left  that  post  and  was  hastening  towards  South  Bay. 

When  General  Lyman  stopped  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  main  army,  the 
whole  available  French  force  on  Lake  Champlain,  did 
not  exceed  eight  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  Indians. 
Early  in  the  summer,  however,  the  Baron  Dieskau,  a 
brave  old  officer,  who  had  distinguished  himself  under 
the  celebrated  Marshal  Saxe,  arrived  at  Quebec,  ac- 
companied by  several  veteran  regiments  from  France. 
These  troops  were  immediately  ordered  to  Lake  Ontario, 
but  Dieskau,  hearing  that  the  English  were  in  motion 
towards  Lake  George,  changed  his  route  and  passed 
rapidly  forward  towards  Crown  Point,  where  he  arrived 
about  the  1st  of  August.  For  the  defence  of  this  fort- 
ress seven  hundred  regulars,  sixteen  hundred  Canadians 
and  seven  hundred  savages  were  now  assembled.! 

Dieskau  left  a  strong  garrison  at  Fort  St.  Frederic, 
encamped  a  portion  of  his  army  at  Ticonderoga,  and 
with  six  hundred  savages,  as  many  Canadians  and  two 
hundred  regular  troops,  ascended  the  lake  to  the  head 
of  South  Bay,  and  after  four  days'  march,  arrived 
within  four  miles  of  Fort  Edward,  on  the  Lake  George 
road.  The  Indians  now  refused  to  proceed  further  in 
the  direction  of  the  fort,  but  were  willing  to  go  against 
the  open  camp  of  the  English  at  Lake  George.  The 
head  of  the  column  was  therefore  turned  towards  the 
lake. 

As  soon  as  the  English  Commander  learned  that  the 
French  had  left  South  Bay,  he  determined,  with  the 
advice  of  a  council  of  war,  to  send  a  strong  party  to 
reinforce  Fort  Edward,  then  guarded  by  two  hundred 
and  fifty  New  Hampshire  troops  and  five  companies  of 
the  New  York  regiment.^  This  reinforcement  consisted 

*  Johnson  to  the  Board  of  Trade. 

t  Bancroft's  History  of  U.  S.  Vol.  4.  Baron  de  Dieskau  to  Count 
d'Argents,  Sept.  14,  1855. 

J Johnson  to  the  Governors  of  the  several  colonies. 


60  HISTORY   OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

of  one  thousand  Provincial  troops,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Ephraim  Williams  of  Massachusetts,*  and  two 
hundred  Indian  warriors  led  by  Hendrick,  the  Mohawk 
sachem.  They  started  from  the  camp  about  nine 
o'clock  on  the  morning  wf  the  8th  of  September,  expect- 
ing to  find  the  French  at  or  near  Fort  Edward.  When 
Dieskau  learned,  from  his  scouts,  the  approach  of 
Williams'  party,  he  extended  his  line  on  both  sides  of 
the  road  in  the  form  of  a  half  moon,  and  in  this  order 
continued  slowly  and  cautiously  to  advance.  Colonel 
Williams,  in  the  meantime,  pushed  forward  with  rash 
confidence,  and  had  proceeded  about  four  miles  from 
the  lake,  when  he  suddenly  found  himself  in  the  very 
Centre  of  the  half  circle.  At  that  moment  the  French 
opened  a  fire  of  musketry  in  front  and  on  both  flanks. 
Thus  attacked  on  all  sides  by  an  unseen  enemy  the 
Provincials  offered  but  a  slight  resistance.  Fora  short 
time  the  slaughter  of  the  English  was  dreadful.  Wil- 
liams fell  dead  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  and  the 
brave  and  faithful  Hendrick  was  mortally  wounded; 
but  the  troops  were  withdrawn  with  great  skill  and 
coolness  by  Lieutenant  Col.  Whitney,  who  succeeded 
to  the  command  on  the  death  of  Williams. 

Johnson  lay  at  Lake  George  without  entrenchment  or 
defence  of  any  kind.  Aroused  by  the  noise  of  the 
firing,  he  sent  Lieutenant-colonel  Cole  With  a  rein- 
forcement of  two  hundred  men  to  the  aid  of  Williams, 
and  hastened  to  form  a  sort  of  breastwork  with  fallen 
trees,  drawing  up  a  few  pieces  of  cannon  which  had 
been  left  five  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  front. f 
At  ten  o'clock  the  defeated  troops  bsgan  to  arrive  at 
the  camp  in  large  bodies,  and,  at  half-past  eleven,  the 
French  appeared  in  sight,  marching  in  regular  order 
against  the  centre  of  the  breastwork. 

It  had  been  Dieskau's  purpose  to  rush  forward  and 

*  Before  joining  Johnson,  Colonel  Williams  made  a  will  by  which 
he  bequeathed  his  property  to  the  town  of  Williamstown,  Massachu- 
setts, on  condition  that  the  money  should  be  used  for  the  establish- 
ment and  maintenance  of  a  free  school.  The  school  was  incorporat- 
ed as  a  College,  in  1773,  by  the  name  of  Williams  College. 

t  Review  of  Military  operations  in  North  America. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  61 

to  enter  the  camp  with  the  fugitives ;  but  the  Iroquois 
(Caughnawagas)  took  possession  of  a  rising  ground 
and  stood  inactive.  At  this  the  Abenakis  halted  also  ; 
and  the  Canadians  became  intimidated.*  A  few  shots 
from  the  artillery  drove  them  all  to  the  shelter  of  the 
neighboring  swamps,  and  left  the  French  commander 
and  his  handful  of  veteran  troops  unsupported.  As 
the  regulars  advanced  against  the  centre  they  suddenly 
halted  for  several  minutes  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  the  breastwork,  and  then  again  advanced, 
firing  by  platoons.  Finding  it  impossible  to  break  the 
centre,  Dieskau  moved  to  the  right  and  attacked  Wil- 
liams, Ruggles  and  Titcomb's  regiments,  where  a 
warm  fire  was  kept  up  for  nearly  an  hour. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  English  sud- 
denly leaped  over  the  slight  breastwork  and  charged 
upon  the  assailants,  who  precipitately  retreated,  leav- 
ing almost  all  the  regular  troops  dead  on  the  field. 
The  Canadians  and  Indians  retired  in  small  parties,  to 
the  scene  of  Williams'  defeat  in  the  morning,  where 
they  were  surprised  and  defeated  by  a  party  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  New  Hampshire  and  ninety  New 
York  troops,  who,  under  command  of  Captain  Mc- 
Ginnes,  had  been  sent  from  Fort  Edward  to  reinforce 
the  army  at  Lake  George.  The  loss  of  the  English 
this  day  was  about  two  hundred  and  sixteen  killed  and 
ninety-six  wounded  ;  of  the  French  the  loss  was  much 
greater.*  Dieskau  was  found,  after  the  retreat,  lean- 
ing against  the  stump  of  a  tree,  thrice  wounded  and 
helpless.  Early  in  the  action  General  Johnson  received 
a  painful  wound  in  the  thigh  and  retired  to  his  tent ; 
the  command  then  devolved  on  General  Lyman. 
Johnson,  by  this  victory,  became  a  Baronet,  and  re- 

*  Bancroft's  History  of  the  U.  S.,  Vol.  4.  Baron  Dieskau  had  no 
confidence  in  the  Iroquois.  After  his  defeat  he  writes  M.  de  Vau- 
dreuil,  "  I  prophesied  to  you,  sir,  that  the  Iroquois  would  play 
some  scurvy  trick.  It  is  unfortunate  for  me  that  I  am  such  a  good 
prophet." — Paris  Doc. 

t  Johnson  in  his  official  report  of  this  battle  estimates  the  loss  of 
the  French  at  from  five  to  six  hundred.  Warburton  states  it  as  a 
"  little  short  of  eight  hundred." 


62  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

ceived  a  gratuity  of  five  thousand  pounds,  while  Lyman 
is  not  mentioned  in  the  official  bulletin. 

A  rapid  movement  upon  Crown  Point  would  have 
forced  the  French  to  evacuate  that  post;  but  Johnson 
instead  of  following  up  his  victory  by  a  quick  and  well 
directed  blow,  wasted  the  rest  of  the  season  in  building 
Fort  William  Henry;  a  pile  of  wooden  barracks,  sur- 
rounded by  an  embankment  and  ditch,  which  stood  on 
an  elevated  spot  about  three  hundred  yards  from  the 
temporary  breastwork  attacked  by  Dieskau. 

While  the  army  remained  at  the  head  of  Lake 
George,. in  inaction,  Captain  Robert  Rodgers  and  Cap- 
tain Israel  Putnam,  two  daring  and  active  officers 
belonging  to  the  New  England  troops,  made  repeated 
demonstrations  against  the  French,  cut  off  many  of 
their  working  parties  and  obtained  correct  information 
of  all  their  proceedings.  Upon  one  of  these  occasions 
Rodgers  and  his  men  spent  the  night  in  the  trench 
under  Fort  St.  Frederic,  and  at  another  time,  sur- 
prised a  Frenchman  within  gun-shot  of  its  walls.* 

The  season  of  1756  passed  without  any  military 
movement  of  importance  being  made,  by  either  party 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Champlain.  The  English  com- 
pleted the  defences  of  Fort  William  Henry,  and,  at  one 
time,  contemplated  building  a  fort  at  the  head  of  South 
Bay ;  but  this  last  work  was  at  first  delayed  and  ulti- 
mately abandoned.  On  the  other  hand  the  French 
were  busily  engaged  in  fortifying  the  peninsula  of 
Ticonderoga.  After  the  defeat  of  Dieskau  the  rem- 
nant of  his  army  sought  shelter  there,  where  they  es- 
tablished a  camp  and  commenced  building  a  fort,  after- 
wards called  Fort  Carillon.  During  the  season  of  1756 
upwards  of  two  thousand  French  were  constantly  en- 
gaged upon  the  work.  The  lake  now  presented  a  most 
lively  appearance.  Canoes,  bateaux,  and  schooners 
were  constantly  passing  and  repassing  between  Canada, 
Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  transporting  troops 
from  point  to  point,  or  loaded  with  supplies  and  ammu- 
nition. 

*  Journal  of  the  New  Hampshire  Scouts. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  63 

Small  scouting  parties  would  occasionally  leave  Fort 
William  Henry  and  penetrate  as  far  as  the  French 
works,  to  gather  information  and  beat  up  the  outposts 
of  the  enemy.  Upon  one  occasion  Capt.  Robert  Rogers 
was  sent  on  a  scout  with  a  party  of  fifty  men  and  five 
whale  boats.  Rogers  drew  his  boats  over  the  mountain 
into  Lake  Champlain  and,  passing  Ticonderoga  in  the 
night,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  July,  secreted  his 
party  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  about  twenty-five 
miles  north  of  Crown  Point.  While  lying  here,  Rod- 
gers  counted  thirty  boats  passing  towards  Canada,  and, 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  discovered  a 
schooner  of  thirty-five  or  forty  tons  at  anchor  a  short 
distance  below.  As  he  was  preparing  to  attack  this 
vessel,  two  lighters  with  twelve  men  on  board  ap- 
proached the  shore,  into  which  his  party  fired,  killing 
three  of  the  Frenchmen  and  wounding  two  others. 
The  lighters  were  taken  and  found  loaded  with  wheat, 
flour,  rice,  brandy  and  wine.  Destroying  all  but  the 
two  last,  Rodgers  hastened  back,  his  men  rowing  none 
the  less  stoutly,  when  the  prisoners  informed  them  that 
a  party  of  five  hundred  men  were  only  two  leagues  be- 
low, on  their  way  to  Crown  Point.* 

Major  Rodgers  was  not  always  successful.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1757,  with  about  eighty  rangers  he  intercepted  a 
party  transporting  supplies  from  Crown  Point  to  Ticon- 
deroga and  captured  seven  men,  three  loaded  sleds  and 
six  horses.  On  his  return  to  Lake  George  he  was  met 
by  a  party  of  French  and  Indians  sent  against  him  from 
Ticonderoga.  A  desperate  and  bloody  action  ensued  in 
which  the  rangers  were  defeated  with  a  loss  of  fourteen 
killed,  six  wounded  and  six  taken  prisoners.  Major 
Rodgers  was  twice  wounded,  and  Captain  Spikeman, 
Lieutenant  Kennedy  and  Ensign  Page  of  the  Rangers 
killed.  The  survivors  were  rescued,  through  the  brave- 
ry and  firmness  of  Lieutenant  Stark,  who  conducted 
the  retreat  to  Lake  George.  Two  hundred  and  fifty 
French  and  Indians  were  in  the  action,  of  whom,  ac- 
*  Rodgers'  Journal. 


64  HISTOUY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

cording  to  Rodgers'  estimate,  one-third  were  killed  or 
wounded. 

The  campaign  of  1757  opened  early  and  briskly  on 
the  northern  frontier.  While  the  strong  ice  yet  cov- 
ered the  surface  of  the  lake  .and  the  snow  lay  in  heavy 
drifts  along  its  shores,  eleven  hundred  French  and  four 
hundred  Canada  Indians,  under  Vciudreuil  and  the 
Chevalier  Longueuil,  inarched  from  Ticonderoga  to 
surprise  the  garrison  of  Fort  William  Henry.  During 
the  night  of  the  16th  of  March  the  party  lay  upon  the 
snow  behind  Long  Point,  and,  early  the  next  morning, 
appeared  suddenly  before  the  fort,  expecting  to  carry 
it  by  surprise ;  but  Stark — the  same  who,  twenty  years 
later,  was  ready  to  make  his  Molly  a  widow  for  the 
cause  of  liberty — was  there  with  his  rangers,  and  the 
assailants  were  forced  back,  not  however  until  they 
had  burned  several  sloops,  a  large  number  of  bateaux, 
and  some  store  houses  which  stood  beyond  reach  of  the 
guns  of  the  fort. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  the  French,  Colonel  Parker 
was  sent  from  Fort  William  Henry,  with  a  command 
of  four  hundred  men,  to  attempt  the  works  at  Ticon- 
deroga. The  detachment  crossed  the  lake  in  whale- 
boats  and  bateaux,  but  before  reaching  Ticonderoga, 
were  decoyed  in  an  ambuscade,  and  the  whole  party, 
with  the  exception  of  two  officers  and  seventy  men, 
either  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 

The  French  still  urged  forward  the  defenses  of  Fort 
Carillon.  Montcalm,  brave,  sagacious  and  active,  was 
at  Montreal  preparing  to  carry  out  his  favorite  project 
of  reducing  Fort  William  Henry.  Everything  favored 
the  enterprise.  The  Indians,  including  many  stern 
warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  gathered  around  the  little 
fort  of  St.  Johns  on  the  Richelieu,  and  there  danced 
their  war  dances  beneath  the  white  banner  of  France. 

Six  days  afterwards  they  landed,  from  two  hundred 
canoes,  upon  the  rock-bound  shores  of  Ticonderoga, 
where  they  were  met  by  Marin,  returning  from  a  foray 
near  Fort  Edward;  his  canoes  decorated  with  the 
bleeding  scalps  of  forty-two  Englishmen.  Six  thousand 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  65 

French  and  Canadians,  and  seventeen  hundred  Indians 
were  now  collected  at  Ticonderoga,  armed  to  the  teeth, 
and  anxious  to  be  led  against  the  enemy.  On  the  last 
day  of  July  M.  de  Levy  was  sent  forward  by  land, 
under  guidance  of  the  Indians,  with  twenty-five  hun- 
dred men,  and  Montcnlm  followed  the  next  day,  with 
the  main  body  of  the  army,  in  two  hundred  and  fifty 
boats. 

General  Webb,  a  man  of  weak,  irresolute  and  timid 
character,  was  in  command  of  the  Provincial  troops, 
and  had  five  thousand  men  with  him  at  Fort  Edward, 
while  a  body  of  one  thousand  men  garrisoned  Fort 
William  Henry.  It  so  happened  that  Webb  started  for 
Lake  George,  with  an  escort  of  two  hundred  men,  un- 
der command  of  Major  Putnam,  at  the  very  time  Mont- 
calm  was  embarking  his  army  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
lake.  On  his  arrival  at  the  fort,  Putnam  was  sent  to 
reconnoitre  as  far  as  Ticonderoga,  and  had  proceeded 
part  of  the  way,  when  he  discovered  the  boats  of  the 
French  moving  slowly  up  the  lake.  Returning  to  the 
fort,  Putnam  informed  Webb  of  the  approach  and 
strength  of  the  enemy,  and  urged  that  the  whole  army 
should  be  brought  forward  immediately  to  repel  their 
attack  ;  but  to  this  Webb  would  not  consent.  Enjoin- 
ing secrecy  upon  Putnam  he  returned,  with  dastard 
haste,  to  Fort  Edward,  from  whence  he  sent  Colonel 
Monro,  with  one  thousand  men,  to  reinforce  and  take 
command  of  the  garrison  at  the  lake. 

Montcalm  landed  about  the  time  of  Colonel  Monro's 
arrival,  and  immediately  laid  seige  to  the  fort,  at  the 
same  time  sending  proposals  for  its  surrender.  "  I 
will  defend  my  trust  to  the  last,"  was  the  spirited 
reply  of  the  brave  Monro.  The  seige  lasted  six  days, 
in  the  course  of  which  the  French  General  pushed  his 
advances  within  musket  shot  of  the  fort,  while  a  body 
of  over  five  thousand  regulars,  Canadians  and  Indians, 
under  De  Levy  and  De  la  Corne  held  the  road  leading  to 
Fort  Edward  in  rear  of  the  English  works.  Then  it 
was  that  Monro,  finding  his  provisions  and  ammunition 
nearly  exhausted,  and  having  received  a  letter  from  his 


66  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

pusillanimous  chief  declining  to  send  him  further  assist- 
ance, consented  to  surrender.  By  the  terms  of  capitula- 
tion the  English  were  to  march  out  with  their  arms 
and  baggage,  and  were  to  be  escorted  by  a  detachment 
of  French  troops  as  far  as  Fort  Ed  ward  ;  the  sick  and 
wounded  remaining  under  Montcalm's  protection  until 
their  recovery,  when  they  were  to  be  allowed  to  return 
to  their  homes. 

At  the  time  of  the  capitulation  four  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  English  occupied  the  fort,  while  seventeen  hundred 
and  fifty  were  posted  in  a  fortified  camp  standing  on 
an  eminence  to  the  east,  now  marked  by  the  ruins  of 
Fort  George.  The  troops  inarched  out  of  the  works  on 
the  morning  of  the  10th  of  August,  and  had  scarcely 
passed  the  gates,  when  they  were  attacked  by  a  large 
pirty  of  Indians  attached  to  the  French  army.*  These 
savages  rushed  on  with  the  fury  of  demons.  Men. 
women  and  children  were  murdered  in  cold  blood,  and 
in  the  most  barbarous  manner.  The  massacre  contin- 
ued until  the  English  had  proceeded  half  way  to  Fort 
Edward,  when  the  scattered  and  terrified  troops  were 
met  by  an  escort  of  five  hundred  men,  sent  out  for 
their  protection.  The  French  officers  endeavored  in 
vain  to  arrest  the  terrible  onslaught.  "  Kill  me," 
cried  Montcalm,  baring  his  breast,  "but  spare  the 
English  who  are  under  my  protection."  The  appeal 
was  in  vain.  The  vindictive  savages  had  tasted  blood 
and  neither  prayers,  nor  menaces  nor  promises  availed 
while  a  victim  was  to  be  found,  f 

Immediately  after  the  victory  the  fort  was  levelled  to 
the  ground ;  the  cannon  and  stores  were  removed  to 
Ticonderoga  and  the  boats  and  vessels  taken  to  the 
lower  end  of  the  lake.  Thus  closed  the  military  opera- 
tions of  the  year.  The  French  returned  to  resume  their 
labor  upon  the  walls  of  Carillon,  Webb  shrunk  back  to 

*  Montcalm,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Lpudon,  of  14  Aug.,  1757,  says  lie 
had  "  three  thousand  Indians  of  thirty-three  different  nations"  in 
his  army  on  Lake  George. 

t  Bancroft's  History  of  U.  S.,  Vol.  4;  Conquest  of  Canada,  Vol. 
2  ;  Williams'  Vermont*  Vol.  2. 


A  PLAN  OF  FORT  WILLIAM  HENRY  1757, 
AND  THE  ENGLISH  CAMP  AND  RE- 
TRENCHMENTS, WITH  THE  FRENCH 
CAMPS  AND  THE  ATTACK  THERE- 
UPON. 


A.— Dock. 

B. — Garrison  Gardens. 
C.— Fort  William  Henry. 
D. — Morass. 

E. — Montcalm's  ist  Batter y. 
F. — Montcalm's  2d  Battery. 
G. — Montcalm's  Approaches. 
H. — Two  Intended  Batteries. 
I. — Place  where  Montcalm  landed 
his  Artillery. 


K. — Montcalm's  Camp. 

L  — M.  DeLevy's  Camp. 

M. — M.  De  La  Corne  with  Canadi- 
ans and  Indians. 

N. — English  Encampment  before 
the  retrenchments  was  made. 

O. — Bridge  over  the  Morass. 

P. — English  retrenchment. 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  67 

Albany  and  the  timid  deer  again  drank,  undisturbed,  of 
the  cool  waters  of  the  silver  Horicon. 

The  British  Government  decided  to  press  the  cam- 
paign of  the  succeeding  year  (1758)  with  uncommon 
vigor.  Twelve  thousand  troops  were  to  attempt  the 
reduction  of  Louisburg  on  the  island  of  Cape  Breton, 
sixteen  thousand  were  to  march  against  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,  and  eight  thousand  were  to  attack 
Fort  Duquesne.  The  command  of  the  troops  destined 
for  Lake  Chainplain  was  entrusted  to  Major-general 
Abercrombie,  who  had  succeeded  the  imbecile  Loudon 
to  the  chief  command  in  America. 

On  the  first  of  July,  six  thousand  three  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  Regulars  and  nine  thousand  and  twenty- 
four  Provincials  were  collected  around  the  decaying 
ruins  of  Fort  William  Henry.  Four  days  later  the 
whole  armament  struck  their  tents,  and  in  nine  hun- 
dred bateaux  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  whale-boats 
embarked  on  the  waters  of  Lake  George  ;  a  large  num- 
ber of  rafts,  armed  with  artillery  and  loaded  with  pro- 
visions, accompanied  the  expedition.  That  night,  the 
proud  host  rested  for  five  hours  on  Sabbath-day  Point, 
and,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  6lh,  reached  the  land- 
ing at  the  lower  end  of  the  lake. 

Fort  Carillon,  against  which  the  English  were  now 
advancing,  stood  near  the  point  of  the  peninsula  formed 
by  the  junction  of  the  outlet  of  Lake  George  with  Lake 
Champlain.  This  peninsula  contains  about  five  hundred 
acres,  and  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  water.  One 
half  of  the  western  or  land  sides  was  then  covered  by  a 
swamp.  The  fort  was  nearly  one  hundred  feet  above 
the  water,  and  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  peninsula 
adjoining  the  outlet,  which  here  expands  into  a  bay  of 
some  size.  On  the  extreme  easternmost  point  of  the 
peninsula,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  main  work,  was 
a  strong  redoubt  of  earth  andstones,  which  commanded 
the  narrow  part  of  the  lake.  A  battery  also  stood  on 
the  bank  of  the  b;iy,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  fort, 
while  the  low  land  to  the  north  was  covered  by  two 
batteries,  standing  behind  its  walls.  The  road  from 


68  HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Lake  George  to  Ticonderoga  crossed  the  river  or  outlet, 
twice,  by  bridges.  Near  the  lower  bridge,  and  less  than 
two  miles  from  the  fort,  the  French  had  built  saw-mills, 
which  were  defended  by  a  slight  military  work.  They 
had  also  built  a  log  camp  near  the  landing  at  the  foot 
of  Lake  George. 

To  oppose  the  powerful  army  now  advancing  against 
them,  the  French  had  only  twenty-eight  hundred 
Regulars  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  Canadians.  The 
apparent  hopelessness  of  resistance  excited  Montcalm 
to  action.  With  consummate  judgment  he  marked  out 
his  lines,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  fort,  and  pushed  the 
work  with  such  ardor  that,  in  ten  hours,  a  wall  as  many 
feet  high  had  been  thrown  up  across  the  high  ground 
which  lay  between  the  swamp  and  the  bank  of  the  out- 
let. On  the  1st  of  July  three  regiments,  under  M.  de 
Bourlemaque,  occupied  the  log  camp  at  the  foot  of  the 
lake,  while  the  battalion  of  La  Barre  was  posted  near 
the  mills.  When  the  English  first  appeared  in  sight, 
Bourlemaque  fell  back  upon  the  mills,  leaving  Captain 
de  Trepeze,  with  three  hundred  men,  to  watch  the  ap- 
proaching column. 

Immediately  on  landing,  Abercrombie,  leaving  his 
baggage,  provisions  and  artillery  in  the  boats,  formed 
his  men  into  three  columns  and  advanced  towards  Ti- 
conderoga. The  route  lay  through  a  thick  and  tangled 
wood  which  prevented  any  regular  progress,  and  the 
troops,  misled  by  the  bewildered  guides,  were  soon 
thrown  into  confusion.  While  thus  pressing  forward 
in  disorder,  the  head  of  the  advance  column  under 
Lord  Howe,  fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  French  troops, 
who  had  lost  their  way  likewise,  and  a  warm  skirmish 
ensued.  At  the  first  fire  the  gallant  Howe  fell  and  in- 
stantly expired.  He  was  the  idol  of  the  army  and  had 
endeared  himself  to  the  men  by  his  affability  and  virtues. 
Infuriated  by  the  loss  of  their  beloved  leader,  his  men 
rushed  forward  and  swept  the  French  from  the  field. 
Abercrombie's  bugles  now  sounded  the  retreat,  and 
the  fatigued  soldiers  returned  to  the  landing-place, 
where  they  encamped  for  the  night. 


PLAN  OF  ATTACK  BY  GENERAL  ABER- 
CROMBIE  AT  TICONDEROGA, 

JulyS,  1758. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CRAMPLAIJT.  69 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Bradstreet  moved  forward  with  a  strong  party  and  took 
possession  of  the  saw-mills,  while  Abercrotnbie  again 
formed  his  men  in  order  of  battle,  and  prepared  to  ad- 
vance against  the  French  works.  But  the  attack  was 
not  made  until  the  morning  of  the  8th,  when  the  whole 
army  was  brought  up,  except  a  small  detachment  left 
to  guard  the  boats,  and  a  Provincial  regiment  stationed 
at  the  saw-mills.  Montcalm  had  that  morning  received 
a  reinforcement  of  four  hundred  men,  under  M.  de  Levy, 
which  increased  his  force  to  about  thirty-six  hundred. 
Behind  the  newly  erected  lines,  which  were  now 
strengthened  by  a  wide  and  difficult  abattis,  he  posted 
the  tried  battalions  of  La  Heine,  La  Sarre,  Beam, 
Guiene,  Berry,  Languedoc  and  Roussillon,  and  calmly 
awaited  the  onset. 

As  the  English  approached,  the  rangers,  light  infan- 
try, bateau  men  and  Ruggles',  Doley's,  Partridge's. 
Williams'  and  Baglay's  regiments  of  Provincials,  with 
a  battalion  of  the  New  York  regiment,  took  post  in  front, 
out  of  cannon-shot  of  the  French  works,  Next  came 
the  regulars  destined  for  the  attack,  while  the  Connecti- 
cut and  New  Jersey  troops  were  drawn  up  in  the  rear.  At 
one  o'clock  the  English  bugles  sounded  to  attack,  when 
the  regular  battalions  moved  forward  with  quick  and 
steady  step — the  veteran  fifty-fifth  leading,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  gallant  Colonel  Graham,  at  the  head  of 
Murray's  Highlanders.  As  the  columns  approached, 
and  when  the  ranks  became  entangled  among  the  logs 
and  fallen  trees  which  protected  the  breastwork,  Mont- 
calm  opened  a  galling  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry, 
which  mowed  down  the  brave  officers  and  men  by  hun- 
dreds. For  four  hours  the  English  vainly  strove  to  cut 
their  way  through  the  impenetrable  abattis,  until  Aber- 
crombie,  despairing  of  success,  and  having  already  lost 
nineteen  hundred  and  forty-four  men  in  killed  and 
wounded,  ordered  a  retreat.  Montcalm  did  not  pur- 
sue, for  the  English  still  outnumbered  him  fourfold. 
Having  refreshed  his  exhausted  soldiers,  he  employed 
the  night  in  strengthening  his  lines — a  useless  labor,  for 


70  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

the  frightened  Abercrombie  did  not  stop  until  he  reached 
the  head  of  Lake  George  and,  even  then,  he  sent  his 
artillery  and  ammunition  to  Albany  for  safety.* 

Soon  after  the  retreat  of  the  English,  Majors  Putnam 
and  Rogers  were  sent,  with  their  rangers,  towards  the 
head  of  Lake  Champlaio,  to  watch  the  movements  of  a 
party  of  five  hundred  Canadians  and  Indians,  who,  it 
was  understood,  intended  to  pass  up  the  lake  from  Ti- 
conderoga,  under  command  of  the  famous  Marin. 
Rodgers,  with  the  main  body,  took  a  position  near  Wood 
Creek,  about  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth,  while  Put- 
nam, with  thirty-five  men,  took  post  on  the  bold  rocky 
shore  of  the  lake  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  Creek. 
Near  the  edge  of  these  rocks  he  constructed  a  wall  of 
stones,  and  placed  young  trees  before  it  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  completely  to  hide  the  defense  from  the  water 
below.  Learning  four  days  afterwards,  that  the  ene- 
my were  approaching,  under  cover  of  the  night,  Putnam 
called  in  his  sentinels  and  stationed  his  men  where  their 
fire  would  prove  most  effective  ;  ordering  them  to  re- 
main perfectly  quiet  until  they  received  his  orders. 
The  canoes  advanced  in  solemn  silence,  and  had  passed 
the  wall  of  stone,  when  they  became  alarmed  by  a 
slight  noise,  caused  by  one  of  Putnam's  men  carelessly 
striking  his  gun  against  a  stone.  Crowding  together 
beneath  the  rocks,  a  brief  consultation  was  held  by  the 
party,  when  the  canoes  were  turned  back  towards  Ti- 
conderoga.  As  they  turned,  Putnam  gave  the  order 
to  fire.  This  fire  was  returned  from  the  lake,  and  for 
a  short  time  the  contest  was  warmly  kept  up  on  both 
sides.  Great  was  the  carnage  among  the  canoes,  which 
lay  exposed  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the  water.  Ma- 

*  Abercrombie' s  Dispatch — Conquest  of  Canada.  Bancroft's  His- 
tory of  the  United  States.  Williams,  Vermont,  etc. 

The  loss  of  the  English  on  that  day  was  551  killed,  1356  wounded 
and  37  missing.  Montcalm  reported  his  loss  at  110  killed  and  248 
wounded. 

In  the  centre  of  the  French  lines  a  lofty  cross  was  erected,  in  cele- 
bration of  the  victory,  on  which  was  affixed  a  plate  of  brass  with  this 
inscription: 

'Pone  principes,  eorum  sicut  Oreb,  et  Zebec  et  Zalmanna' — 
Warburton,  Vol.  II. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAItf.  71 

pin  at  length  withdrew  and  landed  his  men  a  short  dis- 
tance below,  intending  to  surround  the  rangers ;  but  Put- 
nam was  upon  the  alert  and  immediately  withdrew  to- 
wards Fort  Edward.  While  retreating  through  the  thick 
forest  an  unexpected  enemy  fired  upon  the  party,  and 
wounded  one  man.  Putnam  instantly  ordered  his  men  to 
charge,  when  his  voice  was  recognized  by  the  leader  of 
the  other  party,  who  cried  out,  "Hold,  we  are  friends." 
"Friends  or  foes,"  answered  Putnam,  "you deserve  to 
perish  for  doing  so  little  execution  with  so  fair  a  shot." 
The  party  proved  to  be  a  detachment  sent  to  cover  his 
retreat. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Putnam  was  taken  prisoner 
by  some  of  the  Indians  attached  to  Marin's  command. 
The  Indians  bound  Putnam  to  a  tree.  A  young  savage 
then  amused  himself  by  seeing  how  near  he  could  throw 
a  tomahawk  to  his  prisoner's  head,  without  touching  it 
— the  weapon  struck  in  the  tree  a  number  of  times,  at 
a  hair's  breadth  from  the  mark.  When  the  Indian  had 
finished  this  novel,  but,  to  one  of  the  parties,  not  very 
agreeable  sport,  a  Canadian  came  up,  snapped  his  fusee 
at  Putnam's  breast,  then  violently  and  repeatedly 
pushed  the  muzzle  against  his  ribs,  and  finally  gave 
him  a  severe  blow  on  the  jaw  with  the  butt-end  of  the 
gun.  Putnam  was  then  stripped  of  his  clothes  and 
taken  to  the  place  selected  for  their  night  encampment, 
where  the  Indians  determined  to  roast  him  alive.  For 
this  purpose  they  bound  him  to  a  tree,  piled  dried 
bushes  in  a  circle  around  him,  and  then  set  fire  to  the 
pile.  At  the  moment  when  Putnam  began  to  feel  the 
scorching  heat,  and  had  resigned  himself  to  the  keen 
agonies  of  certain  death,  Marin  rushed  through  the 
crowd,  opened  a  way,  by  scattering  the  burning  brands, 
and  unbound  the  victim.* 

This  humane  officer,  having  reprimanded  the  savages 
in  severe  terms,  took  Putnam  under  his  own  protection 
and  delivered  him  to  Montcalm,  by  whom  he  was  sent 
to  Montreal. — Thus,  through  hardships,  privations  and 
blood,  were  the  sturdy  Provincials  schooled  for  the 
great  and  heroic  deeds  of  the  American  Revolution. 
*  Thacher's  Military  Journal. 


72  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  V. 

General  Amherst  marches  against  Tioonderoga  and  Crown  Point- 
Retreat  of  the  French  to  Canada — Naval  operations  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain — Progress  of  the  settlement  of  the  country  bordering  on  Lake 
Champlain,  prior  to  the  revolution — New  Hampshire  Grants — 
Dispute  with  tenants  of  Colonel  Reed — A  new  Province  projected 
by  Colonel  Skene  and  others. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  great  importance  attached 
by  the  Provincial  and  Home  Governments  to  the  con- 
trol of  Lake  Champlain — the  key  of  Canada — three 
campaigns,  under  three  different  Generals,  had  been 
undertaken  without  any  progress  towards  the  attain- 
ment of  that  object.  Johnson  was  inefficient,  Webb 
pusillanimous,  and  Abercrombie  wanting  in  military 
skill  and  firmness.  The  first  halted  his  .army  to  build 
a  fort  when  he  should  have  captured  one  ;  the  second, 
with  four  thousand  men  under  his  immediate  command, 
abandoned  the  brave  Monro  to  the  tomahawk  of  the 
merciless  savage ;  while  Abercrombie,  though  far  super- 
ior to  both,  by  a  false  move  and  "  the  extremest  fright 
and  consternation,"  allowed  less  than  four  thousand 
men  to  repel  the  advance  of  fifteen  thousand  troops, 
truly  said  to  have  been  "  the  largest  and  best  appor- 
tioned army  in  America."  Success,  however,  had  at- 
tended the  British  arms  in  other  quarters.  Louisburg 
capitulated  to  General  Amherst  in  July,  and  in  Novem- 
ber General  Forbes  was  in  possession  of  Fort  Du- 
quesne. 

Pitt,  the  then  English  Secretary  of  State,  had  long 
desired  the  conquest  of  Canada,  and  was  determined  to 
leave  no  efforts  untried  to  accomplish  that  object. 
Fully  appreciating  the  skill,  bravery  and  activity  of 
Amherst,  he  appointed  him  to  the  chief  command  in 
America.  Amherst  entered  upon  his  work  with  zeal. 
Wolfe  was  placed  in  command  of  one  expedition  des- 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  73 

tined  to  the  attack  of  Quebec ;  Prideaux  was  sent  with 
another  against  Niagara,  while  the  Commander-in-Chief 
led  a  third  in  person,  against  the  French  posts  on  Lake 
Champlain. 

Montcalm  was  indefatigable  in  his  preparations  for 
the  approaching  struggle.  Three  armed  vessels  were 
built  to  command  the  navigation  of  Lake  Champlain, 
and  the  strong  walls  of  Carillon  again  echoed  with  the 
noise  of  workmen.  Still  the  French  General,  sorely 
pressed  on  every  side,  feared  for  the  safety  of  that  post. 
He  could  spare  but  few  troops  for  its  defence,  and 
besides  he  well  knew  that  its  batteries  were  commanded 
by  the  controlling  summit  of  Mount  Defiance.  "  Had 
I  to  besiege  Fort  Carillon,"  said  he  the  year  before, 
while  wondering  at  the  retreat  of  Abercrombie,  "I 
would  ask  but  six  mortars  and  two  pieces  of  artillery."* 
Bourlemaque  was  sent  forward  to^  protect  the  fort  with 
three  batalions  of  Regulars  and  a  body  of  Canadians 
and  Indians,  but  he  received  instructions,  at  the  same 
time,  if  necessary,  to  blow  up  the  works  on  the  approach 
of  the  English,  to  retire  to  Isle  Aux  Noix  and  there 
make  a  strong  resistance. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  Amherst  reached  the  head  of 
Lake  George  with  an  army  of  six  thousand  men,  where 
he  remained  for  a  month,  waiting  for  the  remainder  of 
the  troops  to  come  up.  On  the  21st  he  embarked  with 
fifty-seven  hundred  and  forty-three  Regulars  and  five 
thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine  Provincials, 
and  crossing  the  lake  in  four  columns  landed,  the  next 
day,  near  the  spot  where  Abercrombie  had  disembarked 
the  year  before.  That  night  his  army  lay  under  arms 
at  the  saw-mills,  while  the  French  held  their  old  lines 
in  force.  On  the  night  of  the  23d,  De  Bourlemaque 
withdrew  his  men  and  leaving  a  party  of  four  hundred 
in  Fort  Carillon,  to  mask  his  retreat,  embarked  with  the 

*  Bancroft's  History  of  U.  S.  See,  however,  Paris  Doc.  in  Vol.  X 
Col.  His.  of  N.  Y.  Where  M.  de  Pout  le  Roy,  chief  engineer  under 
Montcalm,  closes  his  memoir  with  these  words.  "  From  tliis  descrip- 
tion it  will  be  seen  how  little  susceptible  of  defence  is  this  fort.  *  * 
Were  I  intrustedwith  the  seige  I  should  require  only  six  mortars,  and 
two  cannon." 


74  HISTORY. OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

main  body  for  Crown  Point.  The  English  Grenadiers 
immediately  occupied  the  deserted  intrenchments. 

During  the  24th  and  25th,  the  French  kept  up  a 
continuous  fire  upon  the  English  camp,  which  was 
warmly  returned.  In  the  meantime,  Amherst  advanced 
his  approaches  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  fort, 
and  was  prepared  to  assault  the  works,  but  the  French, 
having  now  held  their  opponents  at  bay  long  enough 
to  secure  the  retreat  of  De  Bourlemaque,  prepared  to 
blow  up  and  abandon  them.  Several  mines  were  con- 
structed under  the  walls  and  a  fuse  connected  with  the 
powder  magazine.  At  ten  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the 
26th,  they  sprung  the  mine  and  hastiljr  retreated  to 
their  boats.*  The  explosion  scattered  the  flames  in 
every  direction  —  breastworks,  barracks  and  store- 
houses were  consumed,  while  the  report  of  the  bursting 
guns,  following  each  other  in  quick  succession,  an- 
nounced to  the  retreating  French  the  progress  of  the 
work  of  destruction. 

Amherst  immediately  commenced  repairing  the  fort, 
the  stone  work  of  which  remained  mostly  uninjured. 
He  also  sent  forward  Major  Rodgers,  with  two  hundred 
rangers,  to  examine  the  position  of  the  French  at 
Crown  Point,  and  to  seize,  and,  at  all  hazards,  hold 
some  strong  post  near  the  fort.  But  this  haste  was 
useless,  for  before  the  Rangers  could  reach  their  post, 
the  French  had  destroyed  the  fort,  burned  the  sur- 
rounding settlements  and  retreated  to  Isle  Aux  Noix. 
The  glory  of  St.  Frederic  was  gone. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  Amherst  reached  Crown 
Point  with  the  main  army  and  immediately  traced  out 
the  lines  of  a  new  fort,  about  two  hundred  yards  west 
of  the  old  French  works.  This  fort,  although  never 
completed,  is  said  to  have  cost  the  English  Govern- 
ment over  two  millions  of  pounds  sterling.  The  ram- 
parts were  about  twenty-five  feet  thick  and  nearly  the 
same  in  height  and  were  built  of  solid  masonry.  The 
curtains  varied  in  length  from  fifty-two  to  one  hundred 
yards,  and  the  whole  circuit,  measuring  around  the 
*  Conquest  of  Canada,  Vol.  II. 


PLAN  OF  FORT  CARILLON, 

1759- 


A. — Stone  Battery. 
B.— The  Fort. 
C—  Earth  Battery. 
D.— Wharf. 


G.— Battery. 

H. — Stone  Houses  for  Prisoners. 

I.  — Lime  Kilns. 

K. — Nine  Ovens. 


E  — Stone  Houses  for  Naval  L. — Gardens. 

Stores.  M. — Batteries  in  the  Lines. 

F. — Redoubt.  N. — French  Lines. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  75 

ramparts  and  including  the  bastions,  was  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  yards.  A  broad  ditch  surrounded 
the  work.  On  the  north  was  a  gate,  and  from  the 
north-east  bastion  a  covered  way  leading  to  the  water. 

While  engaged  upon  this  work,  Amherst  directed 
Captain  Loring,  who  superintended  the  naval  opera- 
tions on  the  lake,  to  build  with  the  greatest  dispatch,  a 
sloop  of  sixteen  guns,  a  radeau  or  raft  eighty-four  feet 
long,  capable  of  carrying  six  large  cannon,  and  a 
brigantine.  These  were  completed  by  the  llth  of 
October,  when  the  English  commander  embarked  his 
whole  army  in  bateaux  and  started  for  Canada.  Towards 
the  evening  of  the  next  day  the  wind  commenced  blow- 
ing a  gale,  and  the  general  was  obliged  to  anchor  his 
bateaux  under  the  west  shore  of  the  lake.  Captain 
Loring,  however,  kept  at  sea  with  his  armed  vessels, 
and  at  daylight  in  the  morning,  discovered  the  French 
about  forty-five  miles  down  the  lake.  He  immediately 
gave  chase  and  drove  a  schooner  and  three  sloops  under 
shelter  of  Valcour  Island.  The  sloops  were  sunk,  and 
the  schooner  run  aground.  The  crew  escaped  into  the 
woods.* 

Amherst,  after  remaining  wind-bound  for  several 
days,  again  started  for  Canada,  but  he  had  scarcely 
reached  Valcour  Island,  when  the  autumn  winds 
threatened  to  swamp  his  vessels.  Satisfied  that  he 
could  accomplish  nothing  at  that  late  and  inclement 
season  of  the  year,  he  now  abandoned  the  enterprise 
and  returned  to  winter  quarters  at  Crown  Point,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  21st  of  October. 

While  Amherst  was  at  Crown  Point  he  opened  a 
road  from  that  place  to  "  No.  4  "  on  the  Connecticut 
river,  and  also  planned  an  expedition  against  the  St. 

*  See  Brasrier's  Map  of  Lake  Charaplain,  where  the  north  end  of 
Valcour  Island  is  designated  as  the  place  where  "  the  French 
sunk  their  vessels  in  1759."  The  schooner  carried  ten  four  pounders 
and  the  three  smaller  craf  Is  carried  each  eight  guns  of  small  calibre 
and  a  crew  of  fifty  men.  M.  Bourlemaque  says  the  schooner  was 
run  aground  and  the  three  smaller  vessels  were  sunk  at  nightfall. 
[Dispatch  to  Marshal  de  Belle  Isle]  Lieut.  Hadden,  in  a  map 
made  in  1776,  designates  the  place  in  the  little  bay  opposite  Crab 
Island. 


76  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

Francis  Indians,  who  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  near  Three  Rivers.  The  command  of  this 
expedition  was  entrusted  to  Major  Rodger*  of  the  Ne\v 
Hampshire  troops,  who,  in  October,  left  Crown  Point 
in  bateaux,  with  two  hundred  men.  This  number  was 
afterwards,  by  an  accident,  reduced  to  one  hundred 
and  forty-two,  with  whom  Rodgers  proceeded  to 
Missisco  Bay,  where  he  concealed  his  boats  and  a  por- 
tion of  his  provisions  and  started  by  land  for  the 
Indian  village.  The  expedition  was  successful.  After 
reducing  the  village  to  ashes,  Rodgers  and  his  men 
returned  to  Crown  Point  by  the  way  of  the  Connecti- 
cut River.  In  May,  1760,  General  Amherst  ordered 
Major  Rodgers  to  proceed  down  the  lake  with  275 
Rangers  and  twenty-five  light  infantry,  and  attempt 
the  surprise  of  the  French  forts  at  St.  Johns  and 
Chambly.  On  the  4th  June,  Rodgers  landed  witli 
200  men  on  the  west  shore  of  the  lake,  twelve  miles 
south  of  Isle  Aux  Noix  (Rouse's  Point),  the  rest  of  his 
party  remaining  on  board  the  sloops,  which,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Grant,  had  been  sent  back  to  Isle 
La  Motte.  Rodgers  was  attacked  on  the  6th,  while  en- 
camped near  the  place  of  landing,  by  350  French 
troops  sent  from  the  fort  at  Isle  Anx  Noix,  under  com- 
mand of  M.  La  Force,  and,  after  a  short  but  severe  en- 
gagement, defeated  the  French,  who  returned  to  Isle 
Aux  Noix.  In  this  engagement  Ensign  Wood  of  the 
17th  regiment  and  sixteen  Rangers  were  killed  and 
Capt.  Johnson  and  ten  men  were  wounded.  Capt. 
Johnson  died  a  few  days  after  the  battle.  On  the  part 
of  the  French  forty  were  killed  and  several  wounded, 
including  M.  La  Force. 

After  the  action  Rodgers  retired  to  Isle  La  Motte, 
where  he  remained  until  the  9th,  when  he  landed  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Chazy  river,  and  passing 
around  Isle  Aux  Noix  attacked  and  destroyed  a  small 
stockade  fort  below  St.  Johns  and  returned  to  the  lake 
with  twenty-five  prisoners,  reaching  Crown  Point  on 
the  23d  day  of  June.* 

*  Rodger's  Journal. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLA1N.  71 

In  August  1760,  Colonel  Haviland  left  Crown  Point 
at  the  head  of  fifteen  hundred  regular  troops,  eighteen 
hundred  Provincials  and  some  Indians,  and  on  the 
16th  of  that  month,  encamped  opposite  the  French 
post  at  Isle  Aux  Noix,  and  by  the  24th,  opened  a  fire 
of  mortars  upon  it.  Three  days  after,  M.  De  Bougain. 
ville,  the  Commandant,  withdrew  from  the  island  leav- 
ing a  garrison  of  only  thirty  men,  who  immediately 
surrendered.*  On  the  8th  of  September,  Colonel 
Haviland  joined  Amherst  and  Murray,  under  the  walls 
of  Montreal.  That  same  day  the  city  was  surrendered 
by  Vaudreuil.  By  this  act  the  French  dominion  in 
Canada  ceased,  and  by  the  treaty  of  peace  signed  in 
Paris  on  the  10th  day  of  February,  1763,  that  Province 
was  formally  ceded  to  Great  Britain.  This,  says  Mr. 
Smollet,f  "  was  a  conquest  the  most  important  of  any 
that  ever  the  British  army  achieved,  whether  we  con- 
sider the  safety  of  the  British  Colonies  in  America, 
now  secured  from  invasion  and  encroachment ;  the  ex- 
tent and  fertility  of  the  country  subdued;  or  the  whole 
Indian  commerce  thus  transferred  to  Great  Britain." 

When  the  French  army  retreated  to  Canada,  it  was 
accompanied  by  the  few  inhabitants  residing  upon  the 
borders  of  the  lake.  There  was,  however,  at  this  time, 
a  settlement  of  French  and  Indians  at  S  wanton  Falls  in 
Vermont,  several  miles  east  of  the  lake,  containing  a 
small  church,  a  saw-mill  and  about  fifty  huts,  winch 
was  not  abandoned  by  them  until  the  year  17754 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1760,  the  New  England 
troops  frequently  passed  over  the  road  opened  by  Am- 
herst from  the  lake  to  the  Connecticut,  and  thus  be- 
came acquainted  with  the  fertility  and  value  of  the 
lands  in  that  section.  These  lands  were  soon  sought 
out  and  settled  upon. 

The  lands  north  of  Crown  Point,  although  equally 
fertile,  were  more  remote  and  did  not  as  early  attract 
the  attention  of  the  pioneer  or  speculator.  They,  how- 

*  Conquest  of  C.anada.     Williams'  History  of  Vermont, 
t  History  of  England. 

*  Thompson's  Gazetteer. 


78  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMI'LAIN. 

ever,  came  into  notice  gradually,  so  that  several  perma- 
nent settlements  were  made  along  the  borders  of  the 
lake,  during  the  fifteen  years  which  intervened  between 
the  expulsion  of  the  French  and  the  commencement  of 
the  revolutionary  war. 

In  1766,  Colonel  Ephraim  Doolittle,  Paul  Moore, 
Marshall  Newton  and  others  settled  in  the  town  of 
Shoreham,  and,  in  the  same  year,  Donald  Mclntosh,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  moved  into  the  town  of  Verge nnes. 
A  saw-mill  was  erected  at  the  lower  falls  of  Otter 
Creek  as  early  as  1769,  and  shortly  afterwards  a  grist- 
mill was  built  at  the  same  place. 

Some  years  before  the  commencement  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  two  Germans  by  the  name  of  Logan  and 
Pettier  settled  upon  the  points  of  land,  in  the  town  of 
Shelburne,  known  as  Pottier's  Point  and  Logan's  Point. 
They  were  engaged  in  getting  out  timber  for  the  Cana- 
dian market,  and  are  said  to  have  been  murdered  near 
the  north  end  of  the  lake,  by  a  party  of  soldiers  sent 
out  from  Montreal  to  escort  them  home,  on  their  return 
with  the  avails  of  a  raft  which  they  had  sold.  Soon 
after  their  death,  about  ten  families  settled  in  the  town, 
among  whom  were  Thomas  and  Moses  Pierson. 

John  Strong,  Zadock  Everest  and  a  Mr.  Ward  com- 
menced a  settlement  in  the  town  of  Addison,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  lake  from  Crown  Point,  in  1769  or 
1770.  A  settlement  was  also  commenced  in  1770,  in 
the  town  of  Panton,  by  John  Pangborn  and  Odle 
Squires,  who  were  afterwards  joined  by  Timothy 
Spaulding,  Peter  Ferris  and  others.  Ferris  resided  at 
the  bay  in  which  Arnold  burned  his  vessels  during  the 
revolutionary  war. 

The  town  of  Bridport  was  first  settled,  in  1768,  by 
Philip  Stone,  of  Groton,  Massachusetts.  About  the 
same  time,  two  families  by  the  name  of  Richardson  and 
Smith  moved  into  the  township  and  commenced  a 
settlement,  under  New  York  titles,  and  were  followed 
by  Towner,  Chipman  and  Plumer,  who  held  grants 
from  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire.  In  1773,  Sam- 
uel Smith  moved  his  family  into  the  town  and  was 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIK.  79 

followed  during  the  following  winter  by  Mr.  Victory. 
A  settlement  was  commenced  at  the  lower  falls  on  the 
Winooski  River  by  Ira  Allen  and  Remember  Baker,  in 
1773.* 

These  settlements  were  all  on  the  eastern  border  of 
the  lake.  A  few  improvements  had  also  been  com- 
menced on  the  New  York  side,  which  were  principally 
confined  to  the  grants  made,  by  the  colony  of  New 
York,  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  had  served  in  the 
wars  against  the  French  and  Indians.  The  most  im- 
portant of  these,  lying  north  of  Crown  Point,  was  at 
the  Bouquet  River  where  William  Gilliland  had  erected 
a  saw-mill,  and  where  several  persons,  including  Gilli- 
land, Watson,  Scarr,  Cross,  Blood  and  McCawley 
resided. 

William  Hay  and  Henry  Cross,  lived  on  a  tract  of 
land  granted,  in  1765,  to  Lieutenant  Friswell.  Hay's 
house  stood  near  the  shore  of  the  lake  opposite  Val- 
cour  Island.  From  this  house  his  family  watched  the 
progress  of  the  naval  engagement  between  the  Ameri- 
can and  British  fleet,  llth  Oct.  1776,  and  witnessed 
Arnold's  masterly  retreat  during  the  following  night. 
Before  the  Revolution,  the  few  inhabitants  residing  on 
the  north  end  of  the  lake  received  their  supplies  from 
Montreal,  which  they  were  in  the  habit  of  visiting  sev- 
eral times  in  the  course  of  the  summer  months.  About 
the  1st  of  June,  1775,  Mr.  Hay  went  to  Montreal  to 
purchase  a  supply  of  flour,  and  was  there  arrested  and 
thrown  into  prison  by  order  of  General  Carleton.  He 
remained  in  prison  several  days,  but  was  at  length 
liberated  at  the  solicitation  of  the  merchants  of  that 
city.  Mr.  Hay,  on  his  return,  repaired  to  Crown  Point 
and  gave  information  to  the  American  commander  as 
to  the  strength  and  plans  of  the  Indians,  which  was 
considered  of  great  importance  at  the  time.  He  also 
brought  the  first  news  of  Carle  ton's  efforts  to  enlist  the 
Caughnawagas  on  the  side  of  the  English.  For  some 

*  For  further  information  in  relation  to  the  first  settlement  of  the 
towns  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  lake,  see  Thompson's  Gazetteer 
of  Vermont. 


80  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

reason  lie  was  afterwards  suspected  of  holding  com- 
munication with  the  English.  In  July,  1776,  while 
his  wife  and  children  lay  sick  of  the  small  pox,  Hay 
was  arrested  and  sent  to  Crown  Point,  by  order  of  Gen- 
eral Sullivan  ;  Cross  accompanied  him.  "  These  men 
are  suspected  of  being  inimical  to  us  and  have  it  in 
their  power  to  give  intelligence  to  the  enemy,"  was  the 
reason  assigned  for  their  arrest. 

As  early  as  1763,  one  John  La  Frambois,  a  native  of 
Canada,  accompanied  by  two  men  named  Goude  and 
Swarte,  visited  the  shores  of  the  lake  and  remained  a 
short  time  in  the  present  town  of  Chazy,  Clinton 
County.  La  Frombois  returned  to  Canada  in  1768, 
and  obtained  permission  from  Francis  McKay  to  settle 
on  a  tract  which  McKay  pretended  to  claim  by  virtue 
of  an  assignment  of  the  old  French  grant  to  La  Gauche- 
tiere.*  Under  this  license  La  Frombois  took  possession 
of  what  are  now  lots  numbers  seventy  and  seventy- 
two,  in  Dean's  Patent,  and  built  a  house  on  number 
seventy-two,  where  he  remained  until  1776,  when  he 
was  driven  off  by  the  English  and  his  house  burned. 
He  returned  in  1784,  after  the  war,  rebuilt  his  house 
and  remained  in  possession  of  the  lot  until  his  death  in 
1810.  Joseph  la  Monte  (now  Monty)  moved  on  to  a 
lot  near  La  Frombois',  in  1774,  which  he  abandoned  two 
years  afterwards,  and  reclaimed  after  the  war.  His 
descendants  still  reside  upon  the  same  land. 

After  La  Frombois's  first  visit,  but  before  his  actual 
location  in  1768,  Charles  de  Fredenburgh,  a  needy 
German  nobleman,  who,  in  1766,  had  received  from 
the  English  Government  a  warrant  for  thirty  thousand 
acres  of  land,  lying  on  the  river  Saranac,  moved  on  to 
the  tract  and  built  a  house  and  saw-mill  there.  De 
Fredenburgh  remained  on  this  tract  until  about  the 
time  of  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  when  he 
removed  his  family  to  Montreal.  He  soon  after  re- 

*See  Chap.  3.  Gauchetiere  assigned  to  Esto.be,  in  1746,  who  sold 
toDe  Pontbriant,  Bishop  of  Quebec,  in  December,  17">7.  Pontbriant 
afterwards  conveyed  to  De  Montgolfier,  Superior  of  the  Seminary  of 
St.  Sulpice,  who,  in  1768,  released  to  McKay,  as  one  of  the  heirs  at 
aw  of  the  Bishop,  De  Pontbriant. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  81 

turned  to  protect  his  property,  and  had  been  back  but 
a  short  time,  when  the  house  and  mill  were  burned 
down.  Fredenburgh  disappeared  at  the  same  time  and 
was  supposed  to  have  been  murdered.  The  saw-mill 
stood  on  a  fall  of  the  Saranac,  two  miles  above  its 
mouth. 

In  1761,  Philip  K.  Skene,  an  English  Major  under 
half  pay,  who  had  been  with  Amherst  in  1759,  estab- 
lished a  large  colony  near  the  mouth  of  Wood  Creek. 
In  the  autumn,  Skene  accompanied  an  expedition 
against  Havana,  and  on  his  return,  in  1763,  found  the 
settlement  reduced  to  fifteen  persons.  He  immediately 
set  about  re-establishing  the  colony,  and,  in  1765, 
obtained  patents  for  twenty-five  thousand  acres  of  land 
lying  on  and  near  the  creek.  Here  he  built  a  stone 
mansion  forty  feet  by  thirty,  and  two  stories  and  a  half 
in  height.  In  1770,  he  built  a  large  stone  building 
one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  long,  which  was  used  for 
a  military  garrison  and  depot.  He  also  built  at  this 
place  a  stone  forge  of  about  the  same  dimensions  as 
his  house,  where  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
iron.  This  was  the  first  forge  erected  on  the  borders 
of  the  lake.  Skene  owned  a  sloop,  with  which  he  kept 
up  a  constant  communication  with  Canada,  and,  at  his 
own  expense,  cut  a  road  through  the  wilderness  as  far 
as  Salem,  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles,  from  which 
point  it  was  continued  by  others  to  Bennington.  This 
road  was  used  during  the  season  rwhen  the  navigation 
on  the  lake  was  closed  by  ice.  In  1773,  Skenesborough 
contained  a  population  of  379.* 

The  causes  which  had  formerly  prevented  the  occu- 
pancy of  the  fertile  lands  of  the  Champlain  valley 
were  removed  when  the  whole  country  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  English  Government,  by  the  Conquest 
of  Canada  in  1760.  But  other  difficulties  almost 

*  See  a  petition  to  Governor  Tryon,  praying  that  Skenesborough 
might  be  made  the  Shiretown  of  Charlotte  County.  The  petition  is 
signed  by  thirty-eight  "  inhabitants  of  Crown  Point  district  and 
Ticonderoga."  These  thirty-eight  probably  included  all  the  settlers 
in  the  vicinity  of  those  posts,  on  both  sides  of  the  lake.-^Documeutary 
History  of  New  York,  Vol.  4. 


82  HISTOEY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

immediately  sprang  up  to  retard  the  growth  of  this 
section,  originating  in  the  conflicting  claims  of  the 
English  colonists  to  the  sovereignty  of  that  portion  of 
the  valley  lying  east  of  the  lake.  The  colony  of  New 
York  claimed  jurisdiction  as  far  east  as  the  Connecticut 
River,  while  New  Hampshire  asserted  her  right  as  far 
west  as  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  south  of  the  lake,  to  a 
line  running  parallel  to  and  twenty  miles  east  of  the 
Hudson  River.  Both  colonies  frequently  issued  grants 
for  the  same  territory ;  causing  much  confusion  in  the 
land  titles  and  creating  great  animosity  between  the 
rival  claimants. 

Prior  to  the  close  of  the  year  1763,  the  Governor  of 
New  Hampshire  had  granted  charters  to  different  per- 
sons for  fourteen  towns  lying  along  and  adjoining  the 
east  shore  of  the  lake,  and,  by  similar  grants,  had 
asserted  the  right  of  that  colony  to  the  whole  territory 
claimed  to  be  within  her  jurisdiction.  On  the  other 
side,  the  colony  of  New  York  issued  grants  of  land  on 
the  lake  to  eighty-one  or  more  reduced  officers,  who 
had  served  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  ;  nearly  one- 
half  of  which  were  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake. 
The  colony  had  also  appropriated  a  large  tract,  lying 
between  Otter  Creek  and  Mallet's  Bay,  for  the  dis- 
banded soldiers  of  those  wars.  A  county  had  also  been 
organized  by  New  York,  called  Charlotte  County, 
which  extended,  on  the  north,  from  Lake  Memphre- 
magog  to  the  St.  Regis  River,  and  stretched  south,  on 
both  sides  of  the  lake,  far  beyond  its  southern  ex- 
tremity ;  the  county  seat  was  fixed  at  Skenesborough'. 

The  efforts  of  New  York  to  extend  its  jurisdiction  to 
the  east  was  met,  from  the  first,  by  a  most  decided  op- 
position on  the  part  of  the  people.  Conventions  were 
called  to  devise  means  to  protect  the  New  Hampshire 
claimants  in  their  rights,  committees  of  safety  were 
organized  and  the  law  officers  and  land  surveyors  of 
New  York  were  driven  by  force  from  the  disputed  ter- 
ritory. These  disputes  were  generally  confined  to  the 
southern  part  of  Vermont.  Occasionally,  however, 
they  extended  as  far  north  as  the  grants  upon  the  lakes. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  83 

In  1761,  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire  granted  a 
tract  of  land,  lying  around  the  lower  falls  of  Otter 
Creek,  (Vergennes,)  to  several  persons,  who  moved 
there  and,  as  early  as  1769,  had  erected  a  saw-mill  at 
the  falls.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  the  mill,  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel John  Reed,  who  had  formerly  com- 
manded the  Forty-second  Royal  Highland  Regiment, 
and  who  held  a  claim  to  the  same  land  under  the  col- 
ony of  New  York,  forcibly  drove  off  the  New  Hamp- 
shire settlers  and  put  about  fifteen  families,  his  own 
tenants,  in  possession.  These  last  extended  the  settle- 
ments and  had  erected  several  log  houses  and  a  grist- 
mill, when  they  were  in  turn  ordered  off  by  a  party  of 
"  Green  Mountain  Boys,"  who  burned  the  houses,  de- 
stroyed the  grist-mill  and  put  the  New  Hampshire 
claimants  again  in  possession. 

In  June,  1773,  Colonel  Reed  persuaded  a  number  of 
Scotch  emigrants  who  had  lately  arrived  at  New  York, 
including  John  Cameron,  James  Henderson,  Donald 
Mclntosh,  John  Bardans  and  Angus  McBean,  to  ac- 
company him  to  Otter  Creek  for  the  purpose  of  retak- 
ing possession  of  these  lands.  On  their  arrival  they 
found  Joshua  Hyde  and  several  other  persons  in  pos- 
session, with  whom  Reed  entered  into  an  arrangement 
by  which  Hyde  and  his  associates  were  to  give  up  quiet 
possession  of  the  lands  and  to  allow  Reed's  tenants  to  re- 
tain the  same,  until  the  dispute  as  to  title  should  be 
decided'  by  the  English  Government.  Colonel  Reed 
paid  £61,  16s,  for  the  crops  and  improvements,  repair- 
ed the  grist-mill  and  also  purchased  a  quantity  of  pro- 
visions and  some  cows  for  the  use  of  his  tenants.  He 
then  left  them  and  returned  to  New  York. 

This  arrangement,  although  made  with  the  consent 
of  the  New  Hampshire  claimants,  was  disapproved  by 
the  committee  of  safety,  who  sent  Ethan  Allen,  Seth 
Warner  and  Remember  Baker,  with  a  party  of  about 
one  hundred  "  Green  Mountain  Boys  "  to  Otter  Creek 
for  the  purpose  of  driving  off  the  Scotch  occupants. 
On  the  llth  of  August,  Allen's  party,  attended  by 
Hyde — the  same  person  who  two  months  before  had 


84  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLATN. 

sold  his  claim  to  Colonel  Reed — arrived  at  the  settle- 
ments, drove  the  Scotch  from  their  dwellings,  burned 
the  hay  and  corn  and  five  houses,  and  then  tore  down 
the  grist-mill,  breaking  the  mill-stones  in  pieces  and 
throwing  them  over  the  bank  into  the  Creek.  Cam- 
eron and  his  companions  remained  at  Otter  Creek 
about  two  weeks  longer  and  then  returned  to  New 
York.  After  their  departure  a  small  block-house  was 
erected  at  the  falls,  which  was  garrisoned  and  after- 
wards used  as  a  protection  to  the  New  Hampshire 
claimants.  Another  block-house  was  soon  after  built 
near  the  falls  of  Winooski  River. 

During  the  controversy  between  the  settlers  under 
the  New  Hampshire  grants  and  the  colony  of  New 
York,  a  project  was  started  by  Major  Skene  and  others 
to  form  that  part  of  New  York,  lying  east  of  the  Hud- 
son River,  into  a  new  Province.  To  effect  this  object 
Skene  visited  England,  and  in  March,  1775,  wrote  back 
that  he  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  Crown  Point 
and  Ticonderoga,  and  should  soon  call  on  the  people 
for  an  address  to  show  their  loyalty  to  the  King.  Dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Skene  the  troubles  on  the  grants 
had  increased  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  it  is  extreme- 
ly doubtful  what  would  have  been  the  result  of  the 
contest,  had  not  the  commencement  of  the  American 
Revolution  turned  the  attention  of  all  parties  to  the 
common  cause  of  the  country. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  86 


CHAPTER  VI. 

War  of  the  Kevolution — Surprise  of  Ticonderoga — Arnold  at  St. 
Johns — Sentiments  of  the  Canadians — Invasion  of  Canada — Seige 
of  St.  Johns — Death  of  General  Montgomery  at  Quebec — Retreat 
of  the  "  Army  of  Canada." 

"  WE  conjure  you  by  all  that  is  dear,  by  all  that  is 
sacred,  that  you  give  all  assistance  possible  in  forming 
an  army  for  our  defence,"  was  the  appeal  of  Massachu- 
setts, while  the  first  blood  of  the  Revolution  yet  moist- 
ened the  field  of  Lexington.  Every  section  of  the 
country  responded  to  the  call.  Liberty  poles  were 
raised  throughout  Massachusetts  and  the  adjoining 
Provinces,  and  everywhere  the  militia  took  up  arms 
and  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action. 

"  Putnam  was  at  work  in  the  field  when  the  news 
came  that  blood  had  been  shed ;  he  immediately  drop- 
ped his  implements,  and  started  for  Cambridge,  with- 
out waiting  to  change  his  apparel.  Stark  was  sawing 
logs,  without  his  coat ;  he  shut  down  the  gate  of  his 
mill,  and  commenced  the  journey  to  Boston  in  his  shirt 
sleeves."  The  same  spirit  was  displayed  throughout 
the  country.  Occasionally,  however,  a  few  persons 
were  found  who  were  inimical  to  the  common  cause. 
These  were  called  Tories,  and  were  often  subjected  to 
the  most  rigorous  discipline.  "  When  a  disaffected 
tory  renders  himself  odious,"  says  Doctor  Thacher, 
"  he  .is  seized  by  a  company  of  armed  men,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  liberty  pole,  under  which  he  is  compelled 
to  sign  a  recantation,  and  give  bonds  for  his  future 
good  conduct." 

Upon  one  occasion  a  divine  of  Long  Island  pro- 
nounced, from  his  pulpit,  a  severe  philippic  against 
the  Patriots,  stigmatizing  them  as  rebels,  robbers  and 
assassins.  Information  of  the  high  tory  character  of 
the  discourse  was  carried  to  Captain  Nathaniel  Platt, 


86  HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

a  most  zealous  Patriot,  who  commanded  a  company  ot 
Long  Island  Militia.  Capt.  Platt  immediately  called 
out  his  men,  seized  the  minister  and  carried  him  to  the 
liberty  pole,  around  which  the  company  were  formed. 
The  minister  was  there  severely  reprimanded,  and 
forced  to  walk  up  and  kiss  the  pole  as  a  punishment 
for  his  political  heresy.  On  the  next  Sabbath  Captain 
Platt  was  at  the  church,  to  see  what  effect  his  "  disci- 
pline "  had  produced  upon  the  man  of  God.  For  a 
long  time  the  discourse  was  unexceptionable,  but, 
while  the  minister  was  portraying  the  enjoyments  of 
heaven  to  the  true  Christian,  he  gave  expression  to  his 
feelings  by  turning  towards  the  Captain  and  exclaiming, 
"  there  are  no  rebels  in  heaven,  my  brethren. — No ! 
and  you  will  find  no  Nathaniel  Platts  there,  nor  any 
accursed  liberty  poles  to  kiss." 

The  great  body  of  the  clergy,  however,  were  firm 
and  zealous  Patriots,  who  daily  offered  the  most  fer- 
vent prayers  in  behalf  of  their  bleeding  and  afflicted 
country.  Upon  one  occasion,  a  zealous  divine,  who 
had  been  compelled  to  abandon  his  congregation  in 
Boston,  used  the  following  emphatic  language.  "  Oh ! 
Lord,  if  our  enemies  will  fight  us,  let  them  have  fight- 
ing enough.  If  more  soldiers  are  on^their  way  hither, 
sink  them,  O  Lord,  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea." 
"  Amen,"  responded  his  congregation,  "  Yea,  Lord,  let 
them  have  fighting  enough." 

Among  the  men  brought  out  by  the  Revolution  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  were  Ethan  Allen 
and  Benedict  Arnold.  Arnold,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, was  indued  with  qualities  which  characterized  him 
at  once,  as  the  best  of  warriors  and  the  meanest  of  men. 
In  battle  he  was  "  the  bravest  among  the  brave."  No 
enterprise  was  too  daring  for  him  to  undertake,  no 
obstacle  too  great  for  him  to  surmount.  Whether 
among  the  unexplored  forests  of  Maine,  upon  the  decks 
of  a  little  vessel  on  Lake  Champlain,  before  the  muskets 
of  a  platoon  at  Danbury,  or  under  the  fire  of  Bur- 
goyne's  veterans  at  Bemis'  Heights,  he  was  firm,  dar- 
ing and  unterrified,  But,  in  every  other  respect,  the 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  87 

man  was  despicable.  In  early  life  he  had  been,  by 
turns,  a  half-bred  apothecary,  a  retailer,  a  skipper  and 
a  jockey,  and  had  marked  his  course  by  hypocrisy, 
falsehood  and  crime.  To  escape  the  grasp  of  his 
creditors,  he  committed  perjury,  and  to  relieve  himself 
of  pecuniary  embarrassments,  occasioned  by  a  life  of 
extravagance  and  profligacy,  he  practiced  every  dirty 
act  of  peculation,  and,  ultimately,  aimed  a  traitor's 
dagger  at  the  bosom  of  his  country. 

Ethan  Allen  was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
possessed  all  the  impetuous  daring  of  Arnold,  but  with- 
out his  vices.  Associated  in  early  life  with  the  pioneers 
of  Vermont,  he  soon  became  one  of  the  leading  men  in 
that  quarter,  and  by  his  bold  unyielding  spirit,  repelled 
the  repeated  attempts  of  New  York  to  extend  her  juris- 
diction over  the  New  Hampshire  Grants.  As  a  politi- 
cal writer  he  was  clear  and  forcible,  but  uncultivated  ; 
as  a  leader,  bold  and  decided,  but  often  rash ;  as  a  man, 
frank,  generous  and  unassuming. 

Such  were  the  two  men  who,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1775, 
met  at  Castleton  to  lead  an  expedition  to  the  surprise 
of  Ticonderoga.  Allen,  furnished  with  funds  by  Dean, 
Wooster  and  Parsons,  in  behalf  of  the  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut, had  collected  a  band  of  two  hundred  and  seven- 
ty men,  all  but  forty-six  of  whom  were  his  own  well 
tried  and  faithful  Green  Mountain  Boys,  led  by  Brown 
and  the  cool  and  cautious  Warner.  Arnold  came 
attended  by  a  single  servant,  but  bringing  with  him  a 
Colonel's  commission  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of 
Massachusetts,  authorizing  him  to  raise  a  regiment 
of  four  hundred  men.  As  soon  as  the  two  leaders  met, 
Arnold  pompously  drew  forth  his  commission  and 
claimed  the  right  to  lead  the  expedition  ;  but  Allen  re- 
fused to  yield  the  command.  The  dispute  was  at  length 
referred  to  a  committee  of  officers,  by  whom  it  was  de- 
cided that  Allen  should  retain  the  command,  while  Ar- 
nold was  to  act  as  his  assistant.  The  main  body  now 
left  Castleton  to  proceed  by  land  to  a  point  opposite  Ti- 
conderoga. At  the  same  time  Captain  Herrick  was 
sent  against  Skenesborough,  with  thirty  men,  with 


88  HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLADiJ. 

orders  to  seize  the  small  fort  at  that  place,  to  take  the 
vessels  collected  there  and  meet  Allen  and  transport 
his  party  across  the  lake. 

The  forts  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  had  been 
abandoned  soon  after  the  Conquest  of  Canada,  and 
were  now  in  a  ruinous  condition.  Within  the  year  a 
garrison  had  been  sent  there,  at  the  request  of  the  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  to  protect  the  public  property,  and 
to  secure  that  section  from  the  threatened  encroach- 
ments of  the  New  Hampshire  claimants.  The  garrison 
was,  however,  small  and  weak  ;  Crown  Point  being  held 
by  a  sergeant  and  twelve  men,  while  a  company  of  only 
forty-eight  men,  under  command  of  Captain  de  la 
Place,  was  stationed  at  Ticonderoga. 

Early  on  the  evening  of  the  9th  of  May,  Allen's  party 
reached  the  shore  of  the  lake  opposite  Ticonderoga. 
Herrick  not  having  yet  arrived  from  Skenesborough,  it 
became  necessary  to  procure  a  supply  of  boats  in  the 
neighborhood,  in  order  to  cross  to  the  Fort.  This  was 
a  work  of  no  small  difficulty.  Douglass,  one  of  the 
party,  was  sent  to  Bridport  for  a  scow.  A  large  oar 
boat  belonging  to  Major  Skene,  which  lay  at  anchor 
near  by,  was  decoyed  ashore  and  seized  by  James  Wil- 
cox  and  Joseph  Tyler,  while  several  smaller  boats  were 
procured  from  other  quarters. 

As  these  boats  were  not  sufficient' to  ferry  the  whoj.e 
party  at  once,  it  was  arranged  that  Allen  and  Arnold 
should  first  cross  with  eighty-three  men,  and  that  the 
boats  should  return  for  the  rest  of  the  party,  who  were 
to  remain  behind  under  command  of  Warner.  The 
little  band,  guided  by  Nathan  Beman,  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years,  was  soon  drawn  up  on  the  low  ground  below  the 
fort,  where  an  altercation  again  commenced  between 
the  two  leaders  ;  each  claiming  the  right  to  lead  the  ad- 
vance. Again  the  subordinate  officers  interfered,  and 
decided  that  they  should  go  in  together — Allen  on  the 
right  hand,  and  Arnold  on  the  left.  As  the  day  began 
to  break,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  make  the  attack 
without  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  Warner,  who  had  not 
yet  crossed  the  lake  with  his  party. 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  89 

Allen  now  advanced  to  the  front,  arid  addressed  his 
men,  as  follows :  *'  Friends  and  fellow  Soldiers — You 
have,  for  a  number  of  3  ears  past,  been  a  scourge  and 
terror  to  arbitrary  power.  Your  valor  has  been  famed 
abroad  and  acknowledged,  as  appears  by  the  advice 
and  orders  to  me.  from  the  General  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut, to  surprise  and  take  the  garrison  now  before 
us.  I  now  propose  to  advance  before  you  and  in  per- 
son conduct  you  through  the  wicket  gate  ;  for  we  must 
this  morning  either  quit  our  pretentious  to  valor,  or 
possess  ourselves  of  this  fortress  in  a  few  minutes  ;  and 
inasmuch  as  it  is  a  desperate  attempt,  which  none  but 
the  bravest  of  men  dare  undertake,  I  do  not  urge  it 
on  any  contrary  to  his  will.  You  that  will  undertake 
voluntarily,  poise  your  firelocks  "  "Each  man,"  says 
Allen,  "  poised  his  firelock.  I  ordered  them  to  face  to 
the  right,  and,  at  the  head  of  the  centre  file,  march- 
ed them  immediately  to  the  wicket  gate."* 

When  they  approached,  the  sentinel  snapped  his  gun, 
and  immediately  retreated  through  the  covered  way 
closely  followed  by  the  assailants,  who  were  thus  guid- 
ed within  the  fort.  As  the  Patriots  rushed  into  the 
parade  ground,  they  formed  in  the  centre,  facing  the 
barracks,  and  gave  a  loud  cheer,  while  Allen  ascended 
a  flight  of  steps  leading  to  the  commandant's  quarters, 
and,  in  a  loud  voice,  ordered  him  to  appear  or  the 
whole  garrison  would  be  sacrificed. 

In  this  affair,  the  Patriots  captured  forty-eight  men, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  of  cannon,  several 
swivels  and  howitzers,  together  with  a  large  number 
of  small  arms  and  ammunition  of  every  description, 
and  also  a  warehouse  filled  with  materials  for  boat 
building.  Colonel  Warner  arrived,  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  party,  just  after  the  surrender  of  the  fort, 
and  was  immediately  sent,  with  one  hundred  men,  to 
take  possession  of  Crown  Point ;  but  a  strong  head- 
wind drove  his  boats  back,  and  he  returned  to  Ticon- 
deroga.  The  next  morning  a  more  successful  attempt 

*Allen's  Narrative. 


90  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

was  made,  and  the  fort  at  Crown  Point  was  captured 
without  bloodshed.  Warner  was  there  met  by  Captain 
Remember  Baker,  who  had  left  the  small  fort  on  the 
Winooski  to  join  Allen's  party,  and  who,  on  his  way 
up  the  lake,  had  intercepted  two  boats,  which  had  been 
sent  from  Crown  Point  to  carry  intelligence  of  the  re- 
duction of  Ticonderoga  to  St.  Johns  and  Montreal. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  the  Patriots  left 
Castleton  Captain  Herrick  was  sent,  with  thirty  men, 
against  Skenesborough.  Herrick  approached  the  place 
unobserved,  and  captured  young  Major  Skene,  twelve 
negroes  and  about  fifty  dependents  or  tenants,  without 
firing  a  gun.  He  also  took  a  large  schooner  and  several 
small  boats  belonging  to  Skene,  in  which  he  embarked 
his  men  and  prisoners,  and,  passing  down  the  lake, 
joined  Allen  at  Ticonderoga.  The  history  of  the  sur- 
prise of  Skenesborough  is  embellished  by  an  account  of 
a  singular  discovery  made  there  by  the  Patriots.  It  is 
said  that  some  of  Herrick's  men,  while  searching 
Skene's  house,  found  the  dead  body  of  a  female  de- 
posited in  the  cellar,  where  it  had  been  preserved  for 
many  years.  This  was  the  body  of  Mrs.  Skene,  the 
deceased  wife  of  the  elder  Skene  who  was  then  in 
Europe,  and  who  was  in  the  receipt  of  an  annuity, 
which  had  been  devised  to  his  wife  "  while  she  remain- 
ed above  ground."  Like  a  good  patriot,  Herrick  crip- 
pled the  resources  of  the  enemy,  by  burying  the  body 
in  the  garden  at  the  rear  of  the  house. 

In  order  to  accomplish  their  plans,  and  to  obtain 
absolute  control  of  the  lake,  it  was  now  only  necessary 
that  Allen  and  Arnold  should  get  possession  of  an 
armed  sloop,  of  about  seventy  tons,  which  lay  at  anchor 
in  the  Richelieu  River,  near  the  fort  of  St.  Johns. 
After  consultation  and  a  dispute  between  the  two 
officers,  who  were  mutually  jealous  of  each  other,  it 
was  agreed  that  Arnold  should  fit  out  and  arm  the 
schooner  which  Herrick  had  captured  at  Skenesborough. 
and  sail  for  St.  Johns,  accompanied  by  Allen,  who  was 
to  take  command  of  several  log-boats,  which  lay  at 
Crown  Point. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  91 

The  schooner  having  been  brought  to  Crown  Point, 
Arnold  embarked  on  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  May, 
with  fifty  men  under  Captains  Brown  and  Oswald,  and 
on  the  17th,  arrived  within  thirty  miles  of  St.  Johns, 
where  his  vessel  was  becalmed.  Leaving  the  schooner, 
he  manned  two  small  boats  with  thirty-five  men,  and 
started  to  row  down  the  river.  At  six  o'clock  thenext 
morning  he  arrived  at  St.  Johns,  and  surprised  a  ser- 
geant and  twelve  men  who  garrisoned  the  fort.  He 
also  seized  the  sloop,  in  which  he  found  seven  men  and 
two  brass  six  pounders.  From  the  prisoners  he  learned 
that  the  commanding  officer  of  the  fort  was  hourly 
expected  to  return  from  Montreal,  witli  a  large  detach- 
ment of  troops  for  Ticonderoga,  and  a  number  of  guns 
and  carriages  for  the  sloop.  A  company  of  forty  men 
was  also  momentarily  expected  from  Chambly. 

Arnold  had  at  first  intended  to  await  the  arrival  of 
Allen,  who  had  been  left  far  behind  by  the  schooner, 
while  crossing  the  lake,  but  this  information  caused 
him  to  hasten  his  departure.  Having  destroyed  three 
row-boats,  he  immediately  set  out  on  his  return,  taking 
with  him  the  sloop,  four  boats  loaded  with  stores  and 
twenty  prisoners.  The  party  had  proceeded  about 
fifteen  miles  when  they  met  Allen,  with  one  hundred 
men,  hastening  down  the  river.  Arnold  informed 
Allen  of  the  unexpected  arrival  of  troops  at  St.  Johns, 
and  urged  him  to  return.  But  this  Allen  refused  to 
do,  declaring  that  he  should  push  on  to  St.  Johns, 
and  hold  possession  of  it  with  the  men  under  his  com- 
mand.* 

When  Allen  reached  St.  Johns,  he  found  the  Eng- 
lish troops  were  within  two  miles  of  the  fort.  He 
therefore  crossed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
where  he  encamped  for  the  night.  Early  the  next 
morning  the  English  commenced  a  fire  upon  the  party, 
with  six  field  pieces  and  two  hundred  small  arms. 
Allen  returned  this  fire  for  a  short  time,  but  finding  he 
could  make  no  resistance  against  the  superior  numbers 

*  Arnold  to  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachusetts. 


92  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

opposed  to  him,  he  hastily  re-embarked,  leaving  three 
of  his  men  behind.* 

As  soon  as  Arnold  reached  Crown  Point,  on  his 
return,  he  fitted  up  the  sloop  with  six  cannon  and  ten 
swivels,  fixed  four  guns  and  six  swivels  on  the 
schooner,  and  prepared  to  resist  any  attack  which  might 
be  made  against  that  place  from  Canada.  At  the  same 
time  he  wrote  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  York,  urging  them  to  send  forward 
a  large  body  of  men  to  rebuild  the  fort  at  Ticonderoga. 

The  fortunate  issue  of  the  movement  against  the 
British  possessions  on  Lake  Champlain  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  cause  of  the  country,  as  it 
created  a  confidence  among  the  people  in  the  ultimate 
success  of  the  struggle,  and  at  the  same  time,  placed 
the  colonists  in  possession  of  the  Key  to  Canada, 
effectually  preventing  any  sudden  attack  from  that 
quarter. 

The  feelings  of  the  Canadians,  in  regard  to  the 
approaching  struggle,  were  not  known,  nor  could  it 
yet  be  determined  which  side  of  the  question  they 
would  take.  Sir  Guy  Caiieton,  Governor  of  Canada, 
used  every  exertion  to  enlist  them  on  the  side  of  the 
Government,  while  the  American  Congress,  on  its  part, 
endeavored  to  conciliate  their  friendship  and  induce 
them  to  make  common  cause  with  the  colonists,  or,  at 
least,  to  stand  neutral  during  the  approaching  struggle. 
The  efforts  of  Congress  were  so  far  successful  as  to 
secure  their  neutrality. 

Disappointed  in  not  receiving  the  co-operation  of  the 
Canadians,  Gen.  Carleton  next  attempted  to  rally  the 
royalists,  and  for  that  purpose,  organized  a  corps  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  the  '  Royal  Highland  Emi- 
grants." He  also  entered  into  negotiations  with  the 
Indians.  Toward  the  last  of  July  Colonel  Guy  John- 
son, superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  arrived  at 
Montreal,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  the  chiefs  and 
warriors  of  the  Six  Nations.  Here  a  solemn  council 
was  held,  and  the  assembled  Indians  swore,  in  the 
*  Arnold  to  General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  93 

presence  of  the  Governor,  to  support  the  cause  of  the 
King  against  the  Colonists.  A  great  number,  how- 
ever, who  had  not  attended  the  council,  declared  they 
would  not  intermeddle  in  the  dispute,  nor  would  they 
consent  to  aid  or  oppose  either  party. 

The  American  Congress  was  informed  of  these  at- 
tempts, on  the  part  of  General  Carleton,  to  enlist  the 
Canadians  and  Indians  on  the  side  of  the  King.  It  was 
also  advised  that  the  Canadians  had  refused  to  enter 
into  the  contest;  but  there  was  no  assurance  that  they 
would  long  preserve  their  neutrality.  Carleton  had 
obtained  great  influence  over  this  class,  and  might 
ultimately  succeed  in  drawing  them  over  to  his  side. 
To  prevent  this,  and  in  the  ho^>es  that  the  habitant 
might  be  persuaded  to  embrace  the  opportunity  to 
attempt  the  vindication  of  their  political  rights,  Con- 
gress determined  to  fit  out  an  expedition  for  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada.  For  this  purpose  three  thousand 
New  York  and  New  England  troops  were  ordered  to 
assemble  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  under  the 
command  of  Major-general  Schuyler  and  Brigadier- 
general  Montgomery  ;  while  an  expedition  was  organ- 
ized to  march  against  Quebec,  by  the  way  of  the  Ken- 
nebec  River. 

A  large  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats  were  built  at 
Skenesborough,  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  for  the 
transportation  of  the  army  across  the  lake,  and  Con- 
gress, by  great  exertions,  raised  the  sum  of  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars,  in  specie,  for  the  support  of  the  army 
while  in  Canada.  The  arrangements  for  the  expedi- 
tion were  conducted  by  General  Montgomery,  while 
General  Schuyler  remained  at  Albany,  to  close  negotia- 
tions for  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Mohawk  Indians, 
over  whom  he  had  great  influence. 

General  Carleton,  in  the  meantime,  was  actively 
engaged  in  preparations  to  oppose  the  advance  of  the 
American  army.  He  placed  the  works  at  St.  Johns  in 
good  repair,  and  directed  a  large  vessel  to  be  construct- 
ed there,  which  he  intended  to  station  near  the  north 
or  lower  end  of  the  lake. 


94  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLALtf. 

The  American  Generals  deemed  it  important,  by  an 
immediate  movement,  to  prevent  Carleton  from  getting 
possession  of  the  passage  down  the  Richelieu  River. 
Montgomery,  therefore,  on  the  4th  of  September,  em- 
barked what  men  he  had  collected  at  Crown  Point,  and 
sailed  for  Canada,  leaving  orders  for  the  rest  to  follow, 
as  soon  as  they  should  arrive.  Schuyler  left  Albany  in 
great  haste,  and  following  rapidly,  joined  Montgomery 
near  Isle  la  Motte.  From  that  place  the  two  Generals 
moved  to  Isle  Aux  Noix,  where  they  issued  an  address 
to  the  Canadians,  assuring  them  that  the  army  was 
not  designed  to  act  against  their  country,  but  was 
directed  only  against  the  British  garrisons  and  troops ; 
and  exhorting  them  to  join  the  Americans  in  order  to 
assert  and  defend  their  liberties.  Copies  of  this  ad- 
dress were  distributed  by  Colonel  Allen  and  Major 
Brown,  who  were  sent  among  the  people  of  the  adja- 
cent country  for  that  purpose. 

The  army,  although  not  over  one  thousand  strong, 
now  moved  forward,  and  soon  afterwards  landed  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  above  the  Fort  of  St.  Johns.  At 
this  point  the  ground  was  marshy  and  covered  with 
thick  woods,  through  which  the  men  had  to  pass,  in 
order  to  reach  the  fort.  While  advancing  to  recon- 
noitre the  works,  the  left  wing  was  attacked  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  killed  three  and  wounded  eight 
of  the  Americans.  The  Indians  were,  however,  re- 
pulsed with  some  loss.  Schuyler  then  advanced  to 
within  sight  of  the  fort,  where  he  commenced  a  breast- 
work, but  finding  the  fort  strongly  fortified  and  garris- 
oned, and  learning  that  the  armed  sloop  was  prepar- 
ing to  sail  from  St.  Johns  towards  his  boats,  which  had 
been  left  with  only  a  slight  guard,  he  determined  to 
retire  to  the  Isle  Aux  Noix,  and  there  await  the  arrival 
of  the  artillery  and  the  rest  of  the  troops,  who  were 
daily  expected.  Schuyler  fortified  Isle  Aux  Noix,  and 
to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  sloop  into  the  lake,  con- 
structed a  chevaux-de-frise  across  the  channel  of  the 
river,  which  is  very  narrow  at  this  point.  As  soon  as 
these  arrangements  were  completed,  he  returned  to 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  95 

Albany  to  conclude  his  treaty  with  the  Indians,  where 
he  was  attacked  with  a  severe  illness  which  disabled 
him  from  duty.  The  conduct  of  the  Canada  expedi- 
tion then  devolved  upon  General  Montgomery,  who 
retained  the  sole  command  until  he  fell  under  the 
walls  of  Quebec. 

A  small  detachment  of  recruits,  with  a  few  pieces 
of  artillery,  having  arrived  at  Isle  Aux  Noix,  Mont- 
gomery determined  again  to  push  forward  and  under- 
take the  seige  of  St.  Johns.  This  fort  was  garrisoned 
by  five  or  six  hundred  regulars  and  two  hundred  Cana- 
dians, under  Major  Preston,  and  was  well  supplied 
with  stores,  ammunition  and  artillery.  The  American 
army,  on  the  contrary,  was  undisciplined  and  disorderly, 
the  artillery  was  too  light,  the  mortars  were  defective, 
the  ammunition  scarce  and  the  artillerists  unpractised 
in  their  duties.  Still  these  difficulties  did  not  abate 
the  ardor  or  zeal  of  the  commanding  officer. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  Montgomery  led  a  party 
of  five  hundred  men  to  the  north  of  the  fort,  where 
he  met  a  detachment  from  the  garrison,  with  which 
he  had  a  slight  skirmish.  Proceeding  a  little  further 
north,  he  formed  an  intrenched  camp  at  the  junction 
of  the  roads  leading  from  Montreal  and  Chambly,  and 
then  hastened  back  to  bring  up  his  artillery.  A  few 
days  afterwards  the  camp  was  moved  to  higher  ground, 
north-west  of  the  fort,  where  abreast-work  was  thrown 
up. 

Although  the  Americans  had  now  encompassed  the 
fort,  they  could  do  but  little  towards  a  regular  seige 
for  the  want  of  ammunition  and  heavy  guns  to  breach 
the  works;  but  fortune  soon  opened  a  way  through 
which  to  remedy  this  deficiency.  A  little  below  St. 
Johns,  and  upon  the  same  river,  is  Fort  Chambly, 
which  then  contained  several  pieces  of  cannon,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four  barrels  of  gunpowder  and  a 
large  quantity  of  military  stores  and  provisions. — The 
fort  was  garrisoned  by  six  officers  and  eighty-three 
privates.  On  the  18th  of  October,  a  strong  detnch- 
ment  of  Americans  and  Canadians — many  of  the  latter 


96  HISTOBY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

having,  by  this  time,  joined  the  army — were  placed 
under  command  of  Majors  Livingston  and  Brown,  and 
ordered  to  attack  the  fort.  The  detachment  passed 
down  the  river  in  boats  during  a  dark  night,  and  sur- 
prised the  fort,  which  made  but  a  feeble  resistance.  The 
stores  and  ammunition  were  sent  to  Montgomery,  who, 
now  supplied  with  the  necessary  munitions,  pressed 
the  seige  of  St.  Johns  with  vigor.  A  strong  battery  of 
four  guns  and  six  mortars  was  erected  within  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  and  a  block-house 
was  built  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  mounting 
one  gun  and  two  mortars. 

While  Montgomery  was  thus  employed  at  St.  Johns, 
detachments  of  his  army  were  scouring  the  country  be- 
tween the  Richelieu  and  the  St.  Lawrence.  One  of 
these  detachments,  numbering- about  eighty  men,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  passed  through  all 
the  parishes  east  of  the  Richelieu,  as  far  as  its  mouth. 
From  this  point,  Allen  moved  up  the  east  bank  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  Longueuil,  where  he  crossed  the  river, 
and,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  September,  appear- 
ed unexpectedly  before  the  city  of  Montreal.  He  was 
there  met  by  General  Carleton,  and,  with  his  whole 
party,  taken  prisoner.  A  few  days  later,  Carleton  left 
Montreal  with  one  thousand  regulars,  Canadians  and 
Indians,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  seige  of  Fort  St. 
Johns.  He  embarked  upon  the  St.  Lawrence  and  at- 
tempted to  land  at  Longueuil,  but  was  driven  back  by 
Colonel  Seth  Warner,  who,  with  three  hundred  "  Green 
Mountain  Boys,"  lay  secreted  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
river. 

When  Montgomery  heard  of  Colonel  Warner's  suc- 
cess, he  sent  a  flag  to  Major  Preston  informing  him  of 
Carleton's  repulse,  and  demanding  the  immediate  sur- 
render of  the  fort.  Preston  asked  for  a  delay  of  four 
days,  which  was  denied,  and  the  demand  renewed.  The 
next  morning,  (Nov.  3d,)  the  whole  garrison  surren- 
dered as  prisoners  of  war.  Among  the  spoils  found  in 
the  fort  were  seventeen  pieces  of  brass  ordnance,  two 
howitzers,  seven  mortars,  twenty-two  iron  cannon  and 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  97 

eight  hundred  stand  of  arms,  with  a  quantity  of  shot 
and  small  shells.  The  prisoners  were  treated  with 
great  kindness,  and  were  conveyed  by  the  way  of 
Ticonderoga,  into  the  interior  of  New  England  for 
safe-keeping. 

Montgomery  received  great  praise  for  the  energy  and 
perseverance  with  which  lie  had,  for  six  weeks,  urged 
the  seige  against  obstacles  of  the  most  difficult  and 
embarrassing  character.  Not  only  did  he  lack  proper 
implements  and  munitions  of  war,  but  his  army  was 
composed  of  young  and  raw  troops,  unused  to  the  pri- 
vations of  the  field,  or  to  military  restraint.  Indeed 
his  camp  at  times  resembled  a  great  political  assembly. 
Prompt  and  implicit  obedience  to  orders  was  unknown. 
Each  man  claimed  a  right  to  canvass,  debate  and  decide 
upon  all  the  plans  and  movements  of  the  campaign. 
This  insubordination  extended  through  all  the  grades 
of  the  army.  The  Colonels  would  dispute  with  the 
General,  to  be  themselves  opposed  by  their  Captains; 
and  when  these  last  were  convinced,  the  whole  subject 
must  again  be  debated  with  the  rank  and  file,  who 
claimed  an  equal  right  of  judging  for  themselves 
whether  the  proposed  plan  was  expedient.  It  required 
the  kind  temper,  patriotic  zeal  and  winning  eloquence 
of  Montgomery  to  restrain  such  turbulent  and  dis- 
affected spirits  from  acts  of  open  mutiny. 

•After  the  capitulation  of  Fort  St.  Johns,  Montgomery 
marched  against  Montreal,  and  entered  that  city  on  the 
13th  of  November.  He  then  moved  down  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  on  the  1st  of  December  arrived  at  Point 
Aux  Trembles,  about  twenty  miles  above  Quebec, 
where  he  found  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  who  had 
crossed  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  through  the  thick  forest 
and  the  almost  impassible  mountains  of  Maine.  On 
the  5th,  the  united  forces,  even  yet  less  in  number 
than  the  British,  arrived  within  sight  of  the  walls  of 
Quebec,  and  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  31st, 
advanced  to  the  assault  of  the  city. 

Captains  Brown  and  Livingston,  with  ninety-four 
men,  were  directed  to  lead  a  feint  against  the  upper 


98  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

town,  while  Montgomery  was  to  advance  by  the  way 
of  Cape  Diamond,  and  Arnold  through  St.  Roche,  to 
assault  the  lower  town,  on  opposite  sides.  The  morn- 
ing was  cold  and  stormy ;  the  snow  fell  fast,  and  was 
piled  in  heavy  drifts  by  a  furious  north-west  wind. 
Cautiously  Montgomery  led  his  men  in  the  dark  from 
the  Plains  of  Abraham  to  Wolfe's  Cove,  and  along  the 
margin  of  the  river  to  a  point  under  Cape  Diamond, 
where  the  British  had  erected  a  strong  stockade,  ex- 
tending from  the  precipice  to  the  brink  of  the  river. 
On  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  the  men  posted 
behind  the  stockade  retreated  to  a  block-house,  which 
stood  a  short  distance  to  the  north,  and  which  was 
pierced  with  loop-holes  for  musketry  and  cannon.  In 
the  second  story  of  the  block-house  were  some  cannon 
charged  with  grape  and  canister  shot,  and  so  pointed 
as  to  sweep  the  narrow  cartway  above. 

As  the  assailants  advanced,  and  when  they  were 
within  forty  paces  of  the  block-house,  a  single  gun 
loaded  with  grape  was  discharged,  which  killed  Mont- 
gomery, his  two  aids,  Captains  McPherson  and  Cheese- 
man,  and  every  man  in  front  except  Captain  Aaron 
Burr  and  a  French  guide.  The  brave  and  gallant 
Montgomery  fell  into  Burr's  arms  and  expired.  The 
rest  of  the  party,  appalled  at  the  fearful  havoc  and  the 
death  of  their  general,  retired  in  confusion. 

The  attack  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  town  was 
equally  unsuccessful.  The  detachment  passed  through 
St.  Roche  towards  a  two  gun  battery,  which  was  cap- 
tured by  Morgan's  riflemen,  after  an  hour's  severe 
struggle.  At  the  commencement  of  the  attack  Arnold 
received  a  severe  wound  in  the  leg,  and  was  carried 
helpless  from  the  field.  Morgan  continued  the  fight, 
until  one  half  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  the  rest  were 
benumbed  and  helpless  from  cold,  when  he  surrendered. 

Montgomery  was  endeared  to  the  army  and  to  his 
country,  by  the  possession  of  every  noble  virtue. 
With  intrepid  bravery  he  led  his  little  band  of  half 
clothed  and  undisciplined  men  under  the  walls  of 
Quebec,  and  fell  upon  a  soil  already  hallowed  by  the 


HISTORY  OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  99 

blood  of  a  Wolfe  and  a  Montcalm.  His  death  was  a 
great  public  calamity.  America  acknowledged  his 
worth  and  paid  public  honors  to  his  memory,  while  the 
eloquence  of  England's  purest  statesmen  proclaimed 
his  praise  upon  the  floor  of  the  British  Parliament. 
"  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  Arnold,"  exclaims  a 
celebrated  American,*  "  if  instead  of  being  wounded, 
he  too  had  died,  since  by  his  subsequent  treason  at 
West  Point,  he  blasted  forever  the  glory  of  his  gallant 
conduct  on  that  occasion." 

After  the  death  of  Montgomery,  the  remains  of  the 
little  army  retired  to  a  point  about  three  miles  up  the 
river,  where  they  lemained  during  the  winter.  On  the 
1st  of  May,  General  Thomas  arrived  and  took  com- 
mand of  the  troops,  which,  by  reinforcements  from  time 
to  time,  now  numbered  about  nineteen  hundred  men. 
The  army  was  soon  afterwards  increased  to  three  thou- 
sand, but  the  small-pox  breaking  out  in  the  ranks,  with 
great  severity,  not  over  nine  hundred  were  fit  for  duty. 
General  Thomas  in  a  few  days  retired  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  the  Richelieu,  where  he  was  taken  down  with 
the  small-pox.  He  was  removed  to  Chambly,and  died 
there  on  the  2d  of  June.  About  the  time  of  Thomas' 
death,  General  Sullivan  arrived  in  Canada  with  a  rein- 
forcement of  several  battalions,  and  assumed  the  chief 
command. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1776,  the  British  force  in 
Canada  was  augmented  by  the  arrival  from  England  of 
thirteen  thousand  men,  a  large  portion  of  whom  were 
sent  into  camp  at  Three  Rivers.  Against  this  place  an 
unsuccessful  attack  was  made,  in  which  General  Thomp- 
son and  two  hundred  men  were  taken  prisoners.  Other 
reverses  followed,  until  General  Sullivan,  finding  his 
numbers  greatly  diminished  by  sickness,  desertion  and 
death,  determined  to  evacuate  Canada.  He  therefore, 
on  the  14th  of  June,  abandoned  his  position  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Richelieu  and  leisurely  moved  up  its 
banks  towards  St.  Johns.  Arnold,  who  had  been  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-general,  and  who  then 
*  Colonel  Trumbull. 


100  HISTORY  .OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

commanded  at  Montreal,  withdrew  from  that  city  on 
the  15th,  and  inarching  across  the  country,  joined  Sul- 
livan's division  at  Chambly. 

The  American  General  conducted  the  retreat  in  good 
order,  and  saved  all  the  baggage,  artillery  and  military 
stores,  which  were  dragged  up  the  rapids  of  the  Riche- 
lieu in  boats.  The  army  reached  St.  Johns  towards 
the  last  of  June.  The  sick  were  immediately  sent  to 
Isle  Aux  Noix,  Point  au  Fer  and  Isle  La  Mott,  when 
the  boats  returned  and  took  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
to  Isle  Aux  Noix. — Here  the  men  fit  for  duty  remained 
for  eight  days,  waiting  for  the  boats  to  take  the  sick  to 
Crown  Point  and  to  return.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
a  degree  of  misery  greater  than  that  suffered  by  the 
invalids  during  their  voyage  through  the  lake.  The 
boats  were  leaky  and  without  awnings,  and  the  men, 
lying  upon  the  bottom,  were  drenched  with  water,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  exposed  to  the  burning  sun.  Their 
only  sustenance  was  raw  and  rancid  pork  and  hard  bis- 
cuit or  unbaked  flour.  "The  sight  of  so  much  misery, 
privation  and  distress,"  says  Doctor  Meyrick,  "  broke 
my  heart,  and  I  wept  till  I  had  no  more  power  to  weep." 

When  the  boats  returned  to  Isle  Aux  Noix  they  were 
loaded  with  the  baggage,  while  the  men  were  sent  by 
land  to  Point  Au  Fer,  which  had  been  fortified  by 
order  of  General  Sullivan.  At  that  place  they  found  a 
supply  of  boats  awaiting  them,  in  which  they  embarked, 
and,  on  the  3d  of  July,  reached  Crown  Point. 

The  broken  fragments  of  "  the  army  of  Canada" 
presented  one  of  the  most  distressing  sights  witnessed 
during  the  whole  war.  Of  the  five  thousand  two  hun- 
dred men  collected  at  Crown  Point,  twenty-eight  hun- 
dred were  so  sick  as  to  require  the  attentions  of  the 
hospital,  while  those  reported  as  "  fit  for  duty,"  were 
half  naked,  emaciated  and  entirely  broken  down  in 
strength,  spirits  and  discipline.  Some  few  lay  in  tents, 
others  in  half-built  sheds,  but  by  far  the  greater  num- 
ber occupied  miserable  bush  huts,  which  afforded  a 
slight  shelter  from  the  burning  sun,  but  were  no  pro- 
tection against  the  damp  and  unhealthy  night  air. 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  101 

Among  these  tents  and  huts  the  men  were  scattered  in 
indiscriminate  confusion,  without  regard  to  comfort  or 
health  or  to  the  distinction  of  companies,  regiments  or 
corps.  "  I  found  the  troops  totally  disorganized  by 
the  death  or  sickness  of  officers,"  says  Colonel  Trum- 
bull ;  "  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  did  not  look  into 
tent  or  hut  in  which  I  did  not  find  either  a  dead  or 
dying  man."  The  troops  remained  about  ten  days  at 
Crown  Point,  and  when  they  left  for  Ticonderoga,  over 
three  hundred  new  made  graves  attested  the  frightful 
ravages  that  death  had  made  among  their  broken 
ranks.* 

*Botta's  American  Revolution — American  Archives,  Fifth  Series 
— TrumbulPs  Reminiscences  of  his  own  Times — Thacher's  Military 
Journal — Davis'  Memoirs  of  A.  Burr — Journal  of  the  New  York 
Provincial  Congress — Allen's  Narrative. 


102  HISTOKY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

1776 — The  Americans  and  British  Build  Armed  Vessels  on  Lake 
Champlain — Arnold's  Cruise  on  the  Lake — Battle  of  Valcour  Isl- 
and— Defeat  of  the  American  Fleet  near  Split  Rock — The  British 
occupy  Crown  Point — Condition  of  the  American  Army  at  Ticon- 
deroga. 

THE  plan  of  the  campaign  of  1776,  as  formed  by 
the  British  Ministry,  contemplated  a  separate  move- 
ment against  Ticonderoga  and  New  York,  and  the 
conjunction  of  the  two  armies  at  Albany.  General  and 
Lord  Howe  were  sent  with  a  large  military  and  naval 
force  against  New  York,  while  the  thirteen  thousand 
troops  collected  in  Canada  were  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who  had  under  him  Gen- 
erals Burgoyne,  Phillips,  Fraser,  Nesbit  and  Reidesel ; 
all  men  of  acknowledged  skill  and  ability.  Several 
vessels  were  built  in  England,  and  sent  over  to  be  used 
on  Lake  Champlain. 

During  the  summer  of  1776,  the  English  were  busi- 
ly engaged  in  preparing  a  fleet  for  the  lake  service. 
Seamen,  ship  carpenters  and  laborers  were  collected  at 
St.  Johns  in  numbers.  The  vessels  built  in  England 
were  taken  to  pieces,  carried  over  the  rapids  of  the 
Richelieu  and  reconstructed.  Several  other  vessels 
were  brought  up  from  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  a  great 
number  of  transports  were  framed  and  launched  at  St. 
Johns.  The  fort  at  St.  Johns  was  repaired  and 
strengthened,  and  garrisoned  with  three  thousand  men  ; 
an  equal  number  was  stationed  at  Isle  Aux  Noix.  The 
rest  of  the  troops  were  reserved  to  man  the  armed  ves- 
sels and  transports,  and  to  form  the  army  of  invasion. 
Six  hundred  and  ninety-seven  seamen  were  also  drafted 
from  the  Isis  and  the  other  ships  of  war  lying  at  Que- 
bec, and  sent  forward  to  Lake  Champlain.* 

*  The  number  of  seaman  detached  for  this  service,  were  as  follows: 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  103 

While  the  English  were  thus  engaged,  the  Americans 
were  actively  employed,  at  the  other  extremity  of  the 
lake,  in  preparations  to  repel  the  threatened  invasion. 
On  the  17th  of  June,  Congress  appointed  Major-General 
Gates  to  the  command  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point.  Gates  found  those  posts  in  a  very  reduced 
condition.  The  small-pox  was  still  prevalent  among 
the  troops,  not  a  cannon  was  mounted,  nor  were  any 
preparations  made  for  defense.  The  first  efforts  of  the 
Commander-in-chief  were  directed  to  recruiting  the 
ranks,  restoring  the  men  to  health,  and  providing  them 
with  clothing  and  necessary  accommodations.  Those 
sick  of  the  small-pox  were  sent  to  a  general  hospital 
established  at  the  head  of  Lake  George.  Reinforce- 
ments were  earnestly  solicited  from  the  Eastern  States, 
and  requisitions  made  for  ship  carpenters  to  be  em- 
ployed at  Skenesborough  in  building  the  hulls  of 
galleys  and  boats.  Crown  Point  was  reduced  to  a 
mere  post  of  observation,  while  the  most  active  efforts 
were  made  to  enlarge  and  strengthen  the  defenses  at 
Ticonderoga.  Mount  Independence  was  carefully 
examined  by  Colonels  Wayne  and  Trumbull,  who 
reported  that  the  ground  was  finely  adapted  for  a  mili- 
tary post.  A  portion  of  the  troops  were  ordered  to 
clear  away  the  wood  and  to  encamp  upon  this  eminence. 
The  Pennsylvania  regiments,  the  elite  of  the  army, 
were  posted  at  the  "  French  lines,"  which  they  were 
ordered  to  repair ;  and  the  old  works  were  strengthened 
at  all  points. 

The  small  fort  at  Skenesborough  was  also  repaired, 
and  that  place  selected  as  the  point  of  rendezvous  for 
the  expected  reinforcements.  The  lake  above  Ticon- 
deroga soon  presented  a  scene  of  busy  activity,  as  boats 
were  constantly  passing  and  repassing,  loaded  with 
men,  provisions  and  munitions  of  war.  By  the  month 
of  September  an  army  of  from  eight  to  ten  thousand 

From  the  Isis,  100;  Blood,  70;  Triton,  60;  Garland,  30;  Canceaux, 
40;  Magdalen,  Brunswick  and  Gasper,  18;  Treasury  and  several 
armed  Brigs,  90;  Fell,  30;  Charlotte,  9;  from  Transports,  214;  Vol- 
unteers, 9;  besides  8  Officers  and  19  Petty  Officers. 


104  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

men  were  assembled  at  Ticonderoga.  Each  regiment 
had  its  alarm  post  assigned,  to  which  it  was  ordered  to 
repair  at'  daylight  every  morning,  and  every  means 
was  taken  by  the  officers  to  bring  the  whole  body  to  a 
state  of  high  discipline.* 

The  superintendence  of  the  construction  of  the  fleet 
was  confided  to  General  Arnold,  who  entered  upon  the 
work  with  his  characteristic  energy,  but,  in  its  prog- 
ress, found  himself  surrounded  by  great  and  compli- 
cated difficulties,  occasioned  by  the  want  or  limited 
supply  of  nearly  all  the  materials  necessary  for  boat 
building,  or  for  a  naval  equipment.  But  these  em- 
barrassments only  excited  the  men  to  greater  exertions. 
By  the  middle  of  August,  Arnold  was  prepared  to  take 
the  lake  with  a  naval  force,  carrying  fifty -five  guns  and 
seventy-eight  swivels  and  manned  by  three  hundred 
and  ninety-five  men.  His  fleet  consisted  of  the  sloop 
Enterprise,  Captain  Dickson ;  the  schooner  Royal 
Savage,  Captain  Wynkoop ;  schooner  Revenge,  Captain 
Seaman ;  schooner  Liberty,  Captain  Premier ;  and  -the 
gondolas  New  Haven,  Providence,  Boston,  Spitfire  and 
Philadelphia.^ 

With  this  force  Arnold  sailed  from  Crown  Point  on 
the  20th  of  August,  and  cruised  between  that  place 
and  the  mouth  of  the  Bouquet  River,  until  the  2d  of 
September.  On  the  evening  of  the  2d  he  proceeded 
north  as  far  as  Schuyler  Island,  and,  the  next  day, 
reached  Windmill  Point,  eight  miles  below  Isle  la 
Motte.  It  was  his  first  intention  to  have  gone  as  far 
down  as  Isle  Aux  Tetes,  but  finding  that  island  already 
occupied  by  the  British,  he  anchored  off  Windmill 
Point,  in  a  line  from  shore  to  shore,  and  sent  his  look- 
out-boats about  one  mile  below,  with  orders  to  keep  a 
sharp  eye  upon  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  several  boats  were  sent 
on  shore  for  fascines  to  fix  on  the  bows  and  sides  of  the 

*  TrnmbulPs  Reminiscences  of  his  own  Times. 

t  The  Enterprise  had  been  captured  by  Arnold  at  St.  Johns;  the 
Liberty  by  Herrick  at  Skenesborough.  The  other  vessels  were  built 
at  Skenesborough  and  then  taken  to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
where  they  received  their  sails,  military  stores,  and  equipment. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  105 

gondolas,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  boarding,  and  to 
protect  the  men  from  the  fire  of  musketry.  One  of  the 
boats  reached  the  shore  before  the  others,  and  was  at- 
tacked by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  occupied  the  adjoin- 
ing woods.  Before  the  men  could  row  off,  three  of  their 
number  were  killed  and  six  wounded.  Arnold  imme- 
diately ordered  his  vessels  to  discharge  their  broadsides 
towards  the  woods,  when  the  Indians  precipitately  re- 
treated.* The  same  morning  the  fleet  was  reinforced 
by  the  arrival  of  the  galley  Lee,  of  six  guns,  and  the 
gondola  Connecticut,  of  three  guns. 

The  noise  of  the  firing  on  the  morning  of  the  6th, 
was  distinctly  heard  at  Crown  Point,  fifty  miles  distant 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hartley,  the  commanding  officer 
there,  immediately  wrote  to  General  Gates,  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  that  an  engagement  had  undoubtedly  taken 
place  between  Arnold  and  the  enemy.  Gates  sent  the 
letter,  by  express,  to  General  Schuyler,  then  at  Albany, 
who  ordered  out  the  Ulster  and  Dutchess  County,  and 
a  portion  of  the  New  England  militia.  This  order  was 
revoked  on  the  18th,  when  the  true  account  of  the 
affair  reached  Albany.f 

On  the  night  of  the  7th,  the  English  sent  strong  par- 
ties up  the  river,  and  commenced  preparations  to  erect 
batteries  on  both  sides  of  Arnold's  position.  This  move- 
ment induced  Arnold  to  retire  as  far  back  as  the  Isle 
La  Motte,  where  he  came  to  anchor  about  two  o'clock 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th.  Here  the  fleet  remained 
until  the  19th,  when  it  removed  to  Bay  St.  Amand, 
which  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  a  few  miles 
north  of  Cumberland  Head.  As  the  schooner  Liberty 
was  on  her  way  to  this  anchorage,  she  was  hailed  by  a 
Canadian,  who  came  down  to  the  water's  edge  and  re- 
quested to  be  taken  on  board.  Captain  Premier  sent  a 
boat  towards  the  shore,  with  orders  to  approach  with 
caution  and  to  keep  her  swivels  pointed  and  the  matches 
ready  to  fire  in  case  everything  was  not  right.  The 
man  on  shore  waded  about  a  rod  into  the  water  and 

*  Arnold  to  Major-general  Gates,  Sept.  7,  1776. 
t  American  Archives,  Fifth  Series. 


106  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

stopped,  entreating  the  boat's  crew  to  come  to  him. 
Finding  he  could  not  decoy  them  into  shallow  water, 
he  made  a  signal,  when  about  three  hundred  Canadians 
and  Indians,  who  were  secreted  in  the  woods  near  the 
shore,  uncovered  and  fired  into  the  boat,  wounding 
three  of  the  crew.  The  boat  returned  the  fire  with  her 
swivels  and  small  arms,  and  the  schooner  discharged 
several  broadsides  of  grape,  when  the  party  retreated, 
having  apparently  suffered  some  loss.* 

While  Arnold  lay  at  Bay  St.  Amand  he  sent  two 
boats  to  sound  the  channel  between  Valcour  Island  and 
the  main  shore,  who  reported  that  they  found  the  an- 
chorage there  exceedingly  fine  and  secure.  To  this 
harbor  the  fleet  moved  on  the  23d  of  September.  A 
few  days  afterwards  the  galley  Trumbull,  Captain 
Warner,  arrived,  and  on  the  6th  of  October,  Brigadier 
General  Waterbury  came  up  with  the  galleys  Wash- 
ington, Captain  Thacher,  and  Congress,  Captain  Arnold. 
The  entire  naval  force  of  the  Americans  was  now  col- 
lected at  Valcour  Island,  with  the  exception  of  an  eight 
gun  galley,  then  receiving  her  armament  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  and  the  schooner  Liberty,  which  had  been  sent 
to  Crown  Point  for  supplies.  The  fleet  consisted  of 
the  sloop  Enterprise,  mounting  ten  guns  and  ten  swiv- 
els ;  the  schooner  Royal  Savage,  twelve  guns  and  ten 
swivels ;  the  schooner  Revenge,  eight  guns  and  ten 
swivels ;  the  galley  Lee,  six  guns  and  ten  swivels  ;  the 
galleys  Trumbull,  Congress,  and  Washington,  each 
eight  guns  and  sixteen  swivels ;  and  the  gondolas  New 
Haven,  Providence,  Boston,  Spitfire,  Philadelphia, 
Connecticut,  Jersey,  and  New  York,  each  mounting 
three  guns  and  eight  swivels.  There  were  therefore 
fifteen  vessels  in  all,  mounting  eighty-four  guns  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two  swivels.  The  number  of 
men  and  sailors  detached  to  serve  on  these  vessels  was 
eight  hundred  and  eleven,  but  of  this  number  at  least 
one  hundred  had  not  yet  joined  the  fleet.  Arnold  daily 
trained  his  men  at  the  guns  and  used  his  best  endeavors 
to  reduce  them  to  the  proper  discipline.  He,  however, 
*Arnold  to  Gates,  Sept.  21,  1776. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  107 

complained  frequently  of  their  inefficiency.  "  The 
drafts  from  the  regiments  at  Ticonderoga,"  he  writes 
General  Gates,  "are  a  miserable  set;  indeed  the  men 
on  board  the  fleet  in  general  are  not  equal  to  half  their 
number  of  good  men."  Again  lie  says,  "  we  have  a 
wretched  motley  crew  in  the  fleet ;  the  marines,  the 
refuse  of  every  regiment,  and  the  seamen,  few  of  them 
ever  wet  with  salt  water ;  and  we  are  upwards  of  one 
hundred  men  short  of  our  complement." 

At  this  time  the  British  naval  force  in  the  Richelieu 
consisted  of  the  ship  Inflexible,  Lieutenant  Schank,  of 
eighteen  guns ;  the  schooner  Maria,  Lieutenant 
Starke,  fourteen  guns  ;  schooner  Carleton,  Lieutenant 
Dacres,  twelve  guns ;  radeau  Thunderer,  Lieutenant 
Scott,  twelve  guns  and  two  howitzers;  the  gondola 
Loyal  Convert,  Lieutenant  Longcraft,  seven  guns; 
twenty  gun-boats,  mounting  one  gun  each,  and  four 
long  boats,  with  one  carriage  gun  each.  There  were 
also  twenty-four  long-boats  loaded  with  the  baggage 
and  provisions.*  The  whole  force  was  twenty-nine 
vessels,  mounting  eighty-nine  guns,  and  manned  by  six 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  picked  seamen,  besides  a 
number  of  soldiers  and  artillerists.  A  party  of  In- 
dians accompanied  the  fleet,  in  canoes.  On  their 
way  the  British  erected  a  block-house  at  Point  Au  Fer 
and  left  four  companies  to  defend  it.  f 

The  route  taken  by  vessels  passing  up  the  lake  from 
Canada,  lies  along  and  nearly  parallel  to  the  west  shore 
of  Grand  Isle.  Opposite  Cumberland  Head  the  lake 
is  two  miles  wide,  but,  as  soon  as  that  point  is  passed, 
it  increases  in  width  to  five  miles,  and  does  not  again 
contract  until  you  approach  the  mouth  of  the  Bouquet. 
On  the  western  side  of  the  lake,  about  four  miles  south- 
west of  Cumberland  Head,  and  nearly  two  miles  to  the 
right  of  the  track  of  vessels  sailing  directly  up  the 
lake,  is  the  island  of  Valcour,  which  is  separated  from 

*  Letter  of  Captain  Douglass  of  the  Isis.  The  Inflexible,  Maria 
and  Carleton,  were  brought  from  England  and  reconstructed  at  St. 
Johns. 

t  Hadden's  Journal. 


108  HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

the  main  shore  by  a  channel  about  one-half  mile  in 
width.  This  channel  is  deep  enough  for  the  largest 
vessels,  and  is  hid  from  the  view  of  boats  sailing  up 
the  lake,  until  they  have  passed  some  distance  south  of 
the  island.  Midway  of  this  channel,  and  where  it  is 
most  contracted,  Arnold  anchored  his  vessels  in  a  line 
extending  from  shore  to  shore.  "  We  are  moored,"  he 
writes  to  General  Gates,  "in  a  small  bay  on  the  west 
side  of  the  island,  as  near  together  as  possible,  and  in 
such  form  that  few  vessels  can  attack  us  at  the 
same  time,  and  those  will  be  exposed  to  the  lire  of  the 
whole  fleet." 

At  eight  o'clock  on  Friday  morning,  October  llth, 
the  English  were  discovered  passing  Cumberland  Head 
with  a  strong  north  or  north-west  wind,  and  bearing  in 
the  direction  of  Crown  Point,  towards  which  it  was 
supposed  Arnold  had  retired.  The  fleet  at  this  time 
was  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Thomas  Pringle,  of 
the  Lord  Howe,  who  made  the  schooner  Maria  his  flag 
ship.  General  Carleton  was  also  on  board  the  Maria, 
but  took  no  command  of  the  fleet.  As  the  English 
appeared  in  sight,  oft  Cumberland  Head,  General 
Waterbury  went  on  board  the  Congress  galley,  and 
urged  that  they  should  immediately  set  sail  and  fight 
the  enemy  on  the  retreat  in  the  broad  lake  ;  but  Arnold 
declined,  at  that  late  hour,  to  change  his  plan  of 
defense. 

Capt.  Pringle  was  some  distance  ahead  of  Valcour 
when  he  first  discovered  the  American  vessels.  He 
immediately  changed  his  course  towards  the  island, 
with  a  view  to  engage,  but  found  great  difficulty  in 
bringing  any  of  his  vessels  into  action.  About  eleven 
o'clock,  however,  the  gun-boats  were  enabled  to  sweep 
to  windward  and  take  a  position  to  the  south  of  the 
American  fleet,  when  they  opened  a  fire  upon  the 
Royal  Savage,  which,  with  the  galleys,  had  advanced  a 
short  distance  in  front  of  the  line.  The  British 
schooner  Carleton  soon  after  came  to  the  assistance  of 
the  gun-boats.  The  Royal  Savage  sustained  the  fire 
of  the  British  vessels  for  some  time,  during  which  her 


HISTORY   OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  109 

mast  was  crippled  and  much  of  her  rigging  shot  away. 
She  then  attempted  to  return  to  the  line,  but,  running 
too  far  to  the  leeward,  grounded  near  the  south-west 
point  of  the  island,  and  was  abandoned  by  her  men, 
who  succeeded  in  reaching  the  other  boats  in  safety. 
At  night  the  British  boarded  the  schooner,  and  set  fire 
to  her.* 

At  half-past  twelve  o'clock  the  Carleton  and  the  gun- 
boats had  approached  within  musket  shot  of  the  Ameri- 
can line,  when  the  action  became  general,  and  continued 
without  cessation  until  about  five  in  the  afternoon. 
During  the  engagement  Arnold  was  on  board  the  Con- 
gress, Waterbury  on  the  Washington  and  Colonel 
Wigglesworth  on  the  Trumbull.  The  Congress  and 
Washington  suffered  severely.  The  latter  was  hulled 
in  several  places,  her  main-mast  shot  though,  and  her 
sails  torn  to  pieces.  Waterbury  fought  bravely  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  his  vessel,  and  towards  the  close  of  the 
action  was  the  only  active  officer  on  board  ;  the  captain 
and  master  being  severely  wounded,  and  the  first 
lieutenant  killed.  '  The  gondola  New  York  lost  all 
her  officers  except  Captain  Lee,  and  the  gondola 
Philadelphia,  Captain  Grant,  was  so  badly  injured  that 
she  sank  about  one  hour  after  the  engagement.  Arnold 
fought  the  Congress  like  a  lion  at  bay,  pointing  almost 
every  gun  with  his  own  hands,  and  cheering  his  men 
with  voice  and  gesture.  His  vessel  was  hulled  twelve 
times  and  received  seven  shot  between  wind  and  water  ; 
the  main-mast  was  injured  in  two  places,  the  rigging 
cut  to  pieces,  and  many  of  the  men  were  killed  and 
wounded. 

On  the  side  of  the  English,  the  battle  was  sustained 
by  the  gun-boats  and  the  schooner  Carleton,  and  by  a 
party  of  Indians  who  were  landed  on  the  island 
and  main  shore,  and  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  of 
musketry  during  the  engagement.  The  English  ves- 

*  Arnold's  account  of  the  engagement.  The  hull  of  the  schooner 
lies  on  the  spot  where  she  was  sunk,  and  her  upper  timbers  can  yet 
be  seen  at  low  water  in  the  lake.  Arnold's  papers  were  on  board 
the  schooner  and  were  lost. 


110  HISTOBY-  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

sels  suffered  considerably.  On  board  the  Carleton 
eight  men  were  killed  and  six  wounded.  Two  of  the 
gun-boats  were  sunk,  and  one  was  blown  up,  with  a 
number  of  men  on  board.*  About  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  Captain  Pringle,  who  had  made  several  un- 
successful attempts  to  bring  his  larger  vessels  into  action, 
called  off  those  engaged,  and  anchored  his  whole  fleet 
just  out  of  reach  of  the  American  guns.  The  Thun- 
derer lay  at  the  right  of  the  line,  a  little  south  of  Gar- 
den Island,!  the  schooner  Maria  on  the  left  near  the 
main  shore,  while  the  Loyal  Convert  and  the  Inflexi- 
ble occupied  intermediate  positions.  The  Carleton  and 
gun-boats  were  anchored  near  and  among  the  other 
vessels.  By  this  arrangement,  Captain  Pringle  hoped 
to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  American  fleet  during  the 

night.t 

Arnold  was  well  satisfied  that  he  could  not  success- 
fully resist  the  superior  force,  with  which  the  English 
were  prepared  to  attack  him  on  the  following  morning. 
His  men  had  fought  with  the  most  daring  bravery  and 
resolution,  but  he  had  only  succeeded  in  retaining  his 
position,  by  the  direction  of  the  wind,  which  had  pre- 
vented the  larger  vessels  of  the  British  fleet  from  join- 
ing in  the  action.  Even  under  equally  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, he  could  not  resist  a  renewed  attack,  for 
his  boats  were  already  badly  crippled,  sixty  of  his  men, 
including  several  officers,  killed  or  wounded,  and  nearly 
three-fourths  of  each  vessel's  ammunition  spent.  A 
council  of  war  was  immediately  called,  when  it  was 
determined  that  the  fleet  should  retire  during  the  night 
towards  Crown  Point 

*  Arnold  states  the  loss,  by  the  blowing  up  of  the  gun-boat,  at  sixty 
men. — Letter  to  Gen.  Schuyler,  Oct.  15.  Lieut.  Haddon,  who  was 
in  command  of  one  of  the  gun-boats,  states  the  loss  at  twenty. — Jour- 
nal. 

t  This  is  a  small  island  about  six  hundred  yards  south  of  Valcour. 

J  Had  the  gun-boats  retained  the  position  occupied  by  them  im- 
mediately after  the  action,  the  engagement  would  probably  have  been 
renewed  the  next  day  and  would  have  resulted  in  the  surrender  or 
destruction  of  Arnold's  vessels,  but,  about  sumioun,  after  the  gun- 
boats had  received  a  supply  of  ammunition,  they  were  ordered  to 
anchor  under  cover  of  Garden  Island,  thus  leaving  the  passage  along 
the  west  shore  of  the  lake  unguarded. — Hodden's  Journal. 


HISTORY"   OF   LAKE}   CHAMPLAIN.  Ill 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening*  Colonel  Wigglesworth 
got  the  Trumbull  under  way,  and  directed  his  course 
towards  the  upper  end  of  the  lake.  The  Trumbull  was 
soon  followed  by  the  Enterprise  and  Lee,  with  the  gon- 
dolas ;  and  about  ten  o'clock,  Waterbury  started  in  the 
Washington  galley,  followed  closely  by  Arnold,  in  the 
Congress.  In  this  order,  with  a  light  at  the  stern  of 
each  vessel,  the  fleet  passed  to  Schuyler  Island,  about 
nine  miles  distant,  where  they  arrived  early  next  morn- 
ing. On  examination  Arnold  found  two  of  the  gondo- 
las too  badly  injured  to  repair.  These  he  sank  near  the 
island,  and,  having  fitted  up  the  other  vessels  as  well  as 
his  limited  time  and  means  would  permit,  again  set  sail 
for  Crown  Point. 

While  Arnold  was  repairing  his  vessels,  the  British 
fleet  weighed  anchor  and  commenced  beating  up  the 
lake  in  pursuit;  the  wind  blowing  gently  from  the 
south.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  American 
fleet  was  off  the  Bouquet,  and  the  English  lay  a  little 
above  Schuyler  Island.  Arnold  now  had  the  wind  in 
the  south,  while  a  fresh  north-east  wind,  blowing  in  the 
broader  part  of  the  lake,  favored  the  English  command- 
er, who  brought  up  his  leading  vessels  soon  after  the 
former  had  passed  Split  Rock.  On  this  occasion  Cap- 
tain Pringle  led  in  the  person  in  the  Maria,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  Inflexible  and  Carleton.  The  Maria  and 
Inflexible  at  first  attacked  the  Washington  galley,  which 
was  too  much  shattered  to  keep  up  with  the  rest.  The 
galley  struck  after  receiving  a  few  shots.  The  two 
vessels  then  joined  the  Carleton,  and,  for  several  hoursf 
poured  an  incessant  fire  into  the  Congress  galley,  which 
was  briskly  returned.  Arnold  kept  up  a  running  fight 
until  he  arrived  within  ten  miles  of  Crown  Point,  when 
he  ran  the  Congress  and  four  gondolas  into  a  small  bay 

*  Arnold's  account  of  the  Battle.  Mr.  Cooper,  in  his  Naval  History, 
erroneously  states  that  Arnold  got  under  way  at  2  o'clock,  p.  M. 
He  also  states  that  the  American  fleet,  on  the  morning  of  the  llth, 
"  was  lying  off  Cumberland  Head,"  and  includes  in  the  fleet  the 
schooner  Liberty,  which  was  then  at  Crown  Point. 

t  Captain  Pringle  says  the  action  commenced  at  twelve  and  lasted 
two  hours.  Arnold  says  it  continued  "  for  about  five  glasses." 


112  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

in  Pan  ton,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  and,  having  re- 
moved the  small  arms,  burned  the  vessels  to  the  water's 
edge.  In  this  action  the  Congress  lost  her  first  lieu- 
tenant and  three  men. 

As  soon  as  the  boats  were  consumed,  Arnold  led  his 
party  through  the  woods  to  Crown  Point,  where  he  ar- 
rived at  four  o'clock  the  next  morning.  The  sloop 
Enterprise,  the  schooner  Revenge  and  the  galley  Truin- 
bull,  with  one  gondola,  had  reached  that  place  the  day 
before,  in  safety.  The  galley  Lee,  Captain  Davis,  was 
run  into  a  bay  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  above  Split 
Rock,  where  she  was  blown  up.  The  only  vessels  taken 
by  the  enemy  were  the  Washington  galley  and  the 
gondola  Jersey.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  both  en- 
gagements was  between  eighty  and  ninety,  including 
the  wounded.  The  English  stated  their  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  at  forty. 

Immediately  after  the  action  of  the  13th,  Sir  Guy 
Caiieton  gave  orders  for  his  surgeons  to  treat  the 
wounded  prisoners  with  the  same  care  they  did  his  own 
men.  He  then  directed  all  the  other  prisoners  to  be 
brought  on  board  his  ship,  where  he  treated  them  to  a 
drink  of  grog,  praised  the  bravery  of  their  conduct,  re- 
gretted that  it  had  not  been  displayed  in  the  service  of 
their  lawful  sovereign,  and  offered  to  send  them  home 
to  their  friends,  on  their  giving  their  parole  that  they 
would  not  again  bear  arms  against  Great  Britain  until 
they  should  be  exchanged.  On  the  14th,  Captain,  after- 
wards Sir  James  Craig,  accompanied  the  prisoners  to 
Ticonderoga,  where  he  dismissed  them  on  parole.  The 
generous  manner  in  which  they  had  been  treated,  filled 
the  prisoners  with  the  highest  emotions  of  gratitude, 
and  they  returned  proclaiming  the  praise  of  the  British 
General.  The  feelings  and  sentiments  expressed  by 
these  men  were  such,  that  it  was  not  considered  safe  to 
allow  them  to  land,  or  to  converse  with  the  American 
troops.  They  were  therefore  sent  forward  to  Skenes- 
borough  the  same  night.* 

The  humanity  of  Governor  Carleton's  course  was 
*TrumbulPs  Eemiuiscences  of  his  own  Times. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIK.  113*' 

tinctured  with  policy.  He  well  knew  the  great  dissat- 
isfaction which  had  prevailed  among  the  American 
troops,  and,  with  a  profound  sagacity,  that  distinguished 
his  whole  administration,  took  advantage  of  every  op- 
portunity to  direct  this  feeling  into  a  channel  favorable 
to  the  British  cause,  and  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
the  half  clothed  and  destitute  troops,  a  high  opinion  of 
the  generosity,  kindness,  and  liberality  of  their  oppo- 
nents. 

Although  the  results  of  the  two  naval  engagements 
of  the  llth  and  13th,  had  been  so  disastrous,  yet  the 
Americans  gained  great  credit  for  the  obstinacy  of  their 
resistance.  Even  the  English  acknowledged  that  no 
man  ever  manoeuvred  with  more  dexterity,  fought  with 
more  bravery  or  retreated  with  more  firmness,  than 
Arnold  did  on  both  of  these  occasions.  Such  gallantry 
converted  the  disasters  of  defeat  into  a  species  of  tri- 
umph. Several  American  officers,  however,  were  found 
ready  to  censure  Arnold,  whom  they  called  "  our  evil 
genius  to  the  north,*  but  General  Gates,  who  under- 
stood perfectly  all  the  details  of  the  affair,  always 
speaks  of  him  in  the  highest  terms  of  praise.  "  It  would 
have  been  happy  for  the  United  States,"  he  writes  to  Gov- 
ernor Trumbull,  "  had  the  gallant  behavior  and  steady 
good  conduct  of  that  excellent  officer  been  supported  by 
a  fleet  in  any  way  equal  to  the  enemy's.  As  the  case 
stands,  though  they  boast  a  victory,  they  must  respect 
the  vanquished." 

On  the  14th  of  October,  the  works  at  Crown  Point 
were  destroyed  and  the  troops  and  military  stores  re- 
moved to  Ticonderoga.  As  soon  as  the  Americans  left, 
Carleton  landed  his  army,  and  occupied  the  shores  on 
both  sides  of  the  lake.  It  had  been  his  intention  to 
march  immediately  against  Ticonderoga,  but,  on  the 
15th,  the  wind  commenced  blowing  so  hard  from  the 
south  that,  for  eight  days,  the  English  vessels  could  not 
sail  up  the  lake.  This  dela}'  was  of  great  importance 
to  the  Americans,  as  it  afforded  them  time  to  receive 
reinforcements  of  militia,  and  to  prepare  for  a  vigorous 
*  General  Maxwell  to  Governor  Livingston. 

S 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

defense.  In  that  short  interval  they  made  carriages 
for,  and  mounted  forty-seven  pieces  of  cannon ;  they 
also  surrounded  the  works  with  a  strong  abattis.  Gen- 
eral Gates  had  about  twelve  thousand  men  under  his 
command,  all  of  whom  were  now  full  of  activity  and 
vigilance,  and  desirous  of  an  opportunity  to  display 
their  prowess  before  the  enemy. 

General  Carleton,  finding  he  could  not  advance  im- 
mediately, proceeded  to  establish  himself  at  Crown 
Point,  and  to  repair  the  fort  at  that  place.  He  also  oc- 
cupied Chimney  Point  with  a  portion  of  his  army,  and 
placed  three  of  his  largest  vessels  at  anchor  near  Put- 
nam's point,  a  little  below  which  the  Light  Infantry, 
Grenadiers,  and  a  body  of  Canadians,  and  Indians  were 
encamped.  Reconnoitering  parties  filled  the  woods  in 
every  direction,  and  frequently  penetrated  as  far  south 
as  Lake  George,  where  one  or  two  slight  skirmishes 
occurred  with  struggling  parties  of  the  militia,  who 
were  passing  from  Fort  George  to  Ticonderoga.  Boats 
were  also  sent  to  sound  the  channel  of  the  lake  above 
Crown  Point.  On  one  occasion,  one  of  these  boats  ap- 
proached within  shot  of  the  lower  battery  of  Ticonde- 
oga,  when  it  was  fired  into,  and  two  men  killed  and  one 
wounded. 

On  Monday  the  27th  of  October,  between  eight  and 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  advance  guard-boat, 
lying  below  Ticonderoga,  made  signal  that  the  English 
fleet  was  approaching,  and  about  an  hour  afterwards, 
five  of  the  largest  transport  boats  appeared  in  sight  of 
the  fort,  and  landed  a  number  of  troops  upon  Three 
Mile  Point.  Soon  afterwards,  two  armed  boats  stood 
over  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake  and  appeared  to  be  re- 
connoitering.  As  soon  as  they  approached  near  enough, 
they  were  fired  upon  from  the  lower  battery,  and  from 
a  row-galley  stationed  in  the  river  near  by,  when  they 
retired.  In  the  mean  time  other  British  troops  were 
landed. upon  the  point,  and  a  body  of  men  were  sent 
across  the  lake  into  a  small  bay  about  four  miles  below 
the  works. 

As  these  movements  indicated  an  attack  upon  Ti« 


HISTORY    OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  115 

conderoga,  General  Gates  ordered  the  lines  and  re- 
doubts to  be  manned,  and  brought  three  regiments  from 
Mt.  Independence  to  reinforce  those  on  the  western 
side.  "  Nothing,"  says  General  Gates,  "  could  exceed 
the  spirit  and  alertness  which  was  shown  by  all  the 
officers  and  soldiers  in  executing  every  order  that  was 
given."  The  display  made  on  this  occasion  convinced 
Carleton  that  Gates'  means  of  defence  were  sufficient  to 
resist  an  assault.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  he 
withdrew  his  forces  and  returned  to  Crown  Point, 
where  he  made  immediate  preparations  to  retire  into 
winter  quarters,  in  Canada.  The  rear-guard  of  the 
English  army  left  Crown  Point  on  the  morning  of  the 
3d  of  November,  and  the  place  was,  the  same  day,  oc- 
cupied by  a  detachment  sent  forward  from  Ticonderoga. 
As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the  English  had 
retired  to  Canada,  Gates  dismissed  the  Militia  and  soon 
afterwards  left  with  the  greater  part  of  the  regular 
troops  to  join  Washington,  who  was  then  in  New 
Jersey. 


116  HISTOKYvOF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1777 — 1783. — Burgoyne  invades  the  United  States — Evacuation  of 
Ticouderoga  by  General  St.  Clair — Battle  of  Hubbardton — Surprise 
and  Indignation  of  the  People — Vindication  of  St.  Clair  and  Schuy- 
ler — Lincoln's  Expedition  against  Ticonderoga — Surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne—'Retreat  to  Canada — Operations  on  Lake  Champlain  from 
1778  to  1783. 

THE  British  Ministry  still  adhered  to  the  scheme  of 
opening  a  communication  between  Canada  and  the  City 
of  New  York,  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain.  This  project 
had  acquired  new  favor  at  the  English  Court  from  the 
representations  and  sanguine  promises  of  General  Bur- 
goyne, who  had  visited  England  in  the  winter  of  1776- 
7,  and  urged  upon  the  government  its  importance,  and 
the  certainty  of  its  success.  Dissatisfied,  without  just 
cause,  with  the  proceedings  of  Governor  Carleton,  the 
Ministry  formed  their  arrangements  for  the  new  cam- 
paign, without  Ms  counsel  or  advice,  and  assigned  to 
General  Burgoyne  the  command  of  the  army  in  Canada, 
and  the  direction  of  all  its  operations. 

The  regular  force  allotted  to  Burgoyne  numbered 
seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirteen  men,  among 
whom  were  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventeen 
Brunswick  troops,  commonly  known  as  Hessians.  A 
large  and  complete  train  of  brass  artillery  was  sent  to 
Canada,  together  with  a  full  supply  of  arms,  ammuni- 
tion and  military  accoutrements  of  every  description. 
Major-general  Phillips  and  Brigadier-generals  Fraser, 
Powell  and  Hamilton  served  under  Burgoyne.  The 
Brunswick  troops  were  commanded  by  Major-general 
Reidesel,  and  Brigadier  General  Specht. 

Burgoyne  arrived  at  Quebec  in  the  month  of  May, 
1777,  and  immediately  commenced  preparations  for  the 
prosecution  of  the  campaign.  Two  thousand  Canadians 
were  employed  upon  the  fortifications  at  Sorel,  Chambly, 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  117 

St.  Johns  and  Isle  Aux  Noix,  and  boats  were  construct- 
ed in  great  numbers,  on  the  Richelieu,  for  the  convey- 
ance of  the  troops  and  supplies  through  the  lake. 

To  favor  the  operations  of  the  army,  Colonel.  St.  Leger 
was  sent  against  the  American  posts  on  the  Mohawk 
River,  with  a  force  of  about  eight  hundred  men,  and  a 
large  body  of  Indians  under  Sir  John  Johnson.  St. 
Leger  was  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Oswego,  and, 
having  reduced  the  posts  on  that  route,  was  to  rejoin 
the  main  army  at  Albany. 

Early  in  the  month  of  June,  the  army  left  St.  Johns, 
in  boats,  and  after  several  delays  occasioned  by  con- 
trary winds,  reached  Cumberland  Head,  where  it 
halted  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  ammunition  and 
stores.  The  naval  part  of  the  expedition  was  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Lutwidge,  and  consisted  of 
the  armed  vessels  built  during  the  preceding  year. 
Seven  hundred  carts  were  brought  on  with  the  army, 
to  be  used  in  transporting  baggage  and  provisions 
across  the  portages  between  the  lakes  and  the  Hudson 
River,  and  fifteen  hundred  Canadian  horses  were  sent 
by  land  up  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  under  a  strong 
escort. 

As  soon  as  the  supplies  arrived,  Burgoyne  left  Cum- 
berland Head  and  advanced  as  far  as  the  Bouquet 
River,  where  he  again  halted.  He  was  there  joined  by 
four  hundred  Iroquois,  Algonquin,  Abenaouis  and 
Ottawa  Indians,  to  whom  he  gave  a  war-feast  on  the 
21st  of  June,  at  their  encampment  near  the  falls  of  the 
Bouquet.  On  this  occasion  he  made  a  speech  to  the 
assembled  Indians,  in  which  he  humanely  endeavored 
to  soften  their  ferocity  and  restrain  their  thirst  for 
blood.  He  spoke  of  the  abused  clemency  of  the  King 
towards  the  colonies,  and  explained  to  them  that  the 
present  war  was  carried  on  against  a  country,  where 
the  faithful  were  intermixed  with  rebels,  and  traitors 
with  friends.  He  released  them  from  restraint,  but 
cautioned  them  not  to  violate  the  rules  of  civilized  war- 
fare or  disregard  the  dictates  of  religion  and  humanity. 
"  Be  it  our  task,"  he  said,  "  from  the  dictates  of  our 


118  HISTORY1  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

religion,  the  laws  of  our  warfare,  and  the  principles  and 
interest  of  our  policy,  to  regulate  your  passions  when 
you  overbear,  to  point  out  where  it  is  nobler  to  spare 
than  to  revenge,  to  discriminate  degrees  of  guilt,  to  sus- 
pend the  uplifted  stroke,  to  chastise,  and  not  destroy." 
He  then  called  their  attention  to  the  rules  which  they 
should  observe  during  the  campaign.  "  I  positively 
forbid  bloodshed  where  you  are  not  opposed  in  arms. 
Aged  men  and  women,  children,  and  prisoners  must  be 
held  sacred  from  the  knife  or  hatchet,  even  in  the  time 
of  actual  conflict.  You  shall  receive  compensation  for 
the  prisoners  you  take,  but  you  shall  be  called  to  ac- 
count for  scalps."  The  Indians  pledged  obedience  to 
his  orders,  and  Burgoyne  had  the  credulity  to  believe 
them.  Little  did  he  understand  the  unappeasable  ap- 
petite for  blood,  of  those  by  whom  these  fine  promises 
were  made. 

While  the  English  were  slowly  approaching  Ticonde- 
roga,  the  Americans  were  busily  engaged  in  strengthen- 
ing its  defenses.  The  northern  department,  including 
Albany,  Ticonderoga,  Fort  Stanwix  and  their  depend- 
encies, was  now  under  the  charge  of  Major-General 
Schuyler,  while  the  immediate  command  of  the  works  on 
Lake  Champlain  was  confided  to  Major-general  St. 
Clair,  an  officer  of  great  military  experience  and 
reputation.*  Both  generals  were  advised  of  the  plans 
of  the  British  government  for  the  present  campaign, 
and  used  every  exertion  to  prevent  its  success.  The 
old  French  lines,  to  the  west  of  the  fort,  had  been  re- 
paired and  were  guarded  by  a  strong  block-house  ;  an 

*Arthur  St.  Clair,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1734,  and  was  a  grandson 
of  the  Earl  of  Roslyn.  He  entered  the  army  as  an  ensign  and  served 
under  Araherst  at  Louisburg  and  under  Wolfe  at  Quebec.  He  resign- 
ed in  1762,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1776  he  was  created  a 
Colonel  in  the  Continental  Army  and  in  August  a  Brigadier-general, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Trenton  and  Princeton;  was  made  a  Major- 
general  in  1777.  After  the  Evaculion  of  Ticonderoga  he  was  tried 
by  court-martiiil  and  acquitted.  He  was  with  the  army  at  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis.  Was  elected  to  Congress  in  1786  and  became 
President  of  that  body  in  1787.  In  1789  he  was  made  the  first  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Northwest  Territory  and  held  that  position  until  1802. 
He  died  near  Greensburgh,  Pa,,  August  31,  1818. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  119 

outpost  was  established  at  the  saw-mills,  on  the  falls  of 
the  outlet,  and  another  just  above  that  point,  and  a 
block-house  and  hospital  were  erected  at  the  foot  of 
Lake  George.  Redoubts  and  batteries  were  established 
upon  the  low  lands,  below  the  fort,  and  the  extreme 
left  was  protected  by  a  small  fort  on  Mount  Hope,  an 
eminence  about  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  old  French 
lines. 

A  star-fort,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a  convenient 
square  of  barracks,  had  been  built  on  the  summit  of 
Mount  Independence,  which  was  well  supplied  with 
artillery,  strongly  picketed,  and  its  approaches  guarded 
with  batteries.  The  foot  of  the  hill,  towards  the  lake, 
was  protected  by  a  breast-work  which  had  been  strength- 
ened by  an  abattis  and  a  strong  battery  standing  on 
the  shore  of  the  lake  near  the  mouth  of  East  Creek. 
A  floating  bridge  connected  the  works  of  Mount 
Independence  and  Ticonderoga,  and  served  as  an  ob- 
struction to  the  passage  of  vessels  up  the  lake.  This 
bridge  was  supported  on  twenty-two  sunken  piers 
formed  of  very  large  timber ;  the  spaces  between  the 
piers  were  filled  with  floats,  each  about  fifty  feet  long 
and  twelve  feet  wide,  strongly  fastened  together  with 
iron  chains  and  rivets.  A  boom  made  of  large  pieces  of 
timber,  well  secured  together  by  riveted  bolts,  was 
placed  on  the  north  side  of  the  bridge,  and  by  the 
side  of  this  was  a  double  iron  chain,  the  links  of  which 
were  one  and  a  half  inches  square. 

Opposite  Mount  Independence  is  the  lofty  eminence 
of  Mount  Defiance,  which  rises  abruptly  from  the  water 
to  the  height  of  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and 
is  separated  from  Ticonderoga  by  the  mouth  of  the 
outlet  of  Lake  George.  The  American  works  formed  an 
extensive  crescent,  of  which  this  eminence  was  the  centre. 
The  entire  line  required  at  least  ten  thousand  men,  and 
one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  for  its  defence.  At  the 
time  of  Burgoyne's  approach,  St.  Glair's  whole  force 
did  not  exceed  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-six 
continental  troops  and  nine  hundred  militia;  the  latter 
badly  equipped,  worse  armed,  and  most  of  them  raw  and 


120  HISTORY  OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

undisciplined.  They,  however,  were  zealous  and  deter- 
mined, and  were  ready  to  oppose  any  force  that  might  be 
brought  against  them. 

The  works  about  Ticonderoga  were,  by  many,  consid- 
ered impregnable  ;  but  in  fact  they  were  weak  and  unten- 
able, for  every  position,  whether  at  the  old  French  lines, 
at  the  fort  or  on  Mount  Independence,  was  commanded 
by  the  summit  of  Mount  Defiance,  which  had  hitherto 
been  neglected  by  the  engineers  of  all  parties.  In  1776, 
Colonel  John  Trumbull,  Adjutant-general  under  Gates, 
made  several  experiments  which  proved  the  controlling 
position  of  the  eminence,  and  he  afterwards,  in  company 
with  General  Arnold,  Colonel  Wayne,  and  others  as- 
cended its  rocky  sides.  "The  ascent,"  says  Trumbull, 
"was  difficult  and  laborious,  but  not  impracticable,  and 
when  we  looked  down  upon  the  outlet  of  Lake  George 
it  was  obvious  to  all  that  there  could  be  no  difficulty  in 
driving  up  a  loaded  carriage." 

While  Ticonderoga  was  thus  poorly  garrisoned  and  its 
defences  exposed,  Burgoyne  was  moving  against  it  at 
the  head  of  a  well  disciplined  army,  numbering  seven 
thousand  nine  hundred  men.  On  the  30th  of  June,  the 
whole  force  reached  Crown  Point,  where  the  English 
General  halted  to  issue  a  proclamation,  by  which  he  ex- 
pected to  intimidate  the  Patriots  and  to  strengthen  the 
hopes  of  the  disaffected.  In  this  paper  he  extolled  the 
strength  and  number  of  the  British  forces,  and  portrayed 
in  vivid  language,the  horrors  which  would  result  from  an 
opposition  to  their  arms.  He  offered  encouragement  and 
employment  to  those  who  should  assist  the  King  in- 
redeeming  the  colonies,  and  restoring  to  them  the  bless- 
ings of  British  liberty,"  while  against  those  who  should 
disregard  his  offers  of  mercy  and  forgiveness,  he  threat- 
ened the  merciless  vengeance  of  the  whole  Indian  force 
under  his  command.  Of  the  Patriots,  he  says,  "  The  mes- 
sengers of  justice  and  of  wrath  await  them  in  the  field ; 
and  devastation  and  famine  and  every  concomitant 
horror,  that  are  luctant  but  indispensable  prosecution 
of  military  duty  must  occasion,  will  bar  the  way  to  their 
return."  These  thundering  anathemas  were  received,  in 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLADf.  121 

every  quarter,  with  derision  and  ridicule.  Their  only  ef- 
fect was  to  call  forth  a  reply,  written  by  a  young  officer 
which  created  much  amusement  in  the  ranks  of  the 
American  army,  by  its  admirable  imitation  of  the  pom- 
pous style  of  the  proclamation. 

Burgoy ne's  army  moved  from  Crown  Point  on  the 
1st  of  July,  in  three  divisions ;  the  Germans  under  Reide- 
sel,  taking  position  on  the  east  shore  of  the  lake,  at 
Richardson's  opposite  Putnam  Creek ;  the  right  wing 
under  Fraser,  advanced  as  far  as  Three  Mile  Creek,  and 
the  centre  commanded  by  Burgoyne  in  person,  moved  up 
the  lake  in  transports,  accompanied  by  the  ships  Royal 
George  and  Inflexible,  and  anchored  in  a  position  just 
out  of  reach  of  the  American  guns.  The  following  day, 
a  party  of  Indians  approached  the  outposts  at  Lake 
George  and  were  soon  followed  by  a  large  detachment 
under  Major-general  Phillips.  On  the  approach  of  this 
column,  the  Americans  evacuated  and  burned  the  block- 
houses, and,  abandoning  the  saw-mills,  retired  within 
the  lines.  In  the  course  of  the  night,  General  Phillips, 
took  possession  of  Mount  Hope,  which,  the  next  morn- 
ing was  occupied  in  force  by  Eraser's  corps,  consisting  of 
the  First  British  brigade  and  two  brigades  of  Artillery. 
Phillips  now  held  the  ground  west  of  Mount  Hope,  and 
Fraser's  camp,  at  Three  Mile  Creek,  was  occupied  by 
a  body  of  men  drawn  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake. 
The  column  under  Reidesel,  was  pushed  forward  as  far 
as  East  Creek,  from  which  it  could  easily  stretch  behind 
Mount  Independence. 

During  all  these  movements,  the  American  troops 
kept  up  a  warm  fire  against  Mount  Hope,  and  against 
Reidesel's  column,  but  without  effect.  On  the  4th,  the 
British  were  employed  in  bringing  up  their  artillery, 
tents,  baggage  and  provisions,  while  the  Americans,  at 
intervals,  continued  the  cannonade.  The  same  evening 
the  radeau  Thunderer  arrived  from  Crown  Point,  with 
the  battering  train. 

The  British  line  now  encircled  the  American  works 
on  the  north,  east  and  west.  The  possession  of  Mount 
Defiance  would  complete  the  investment,  and  effectu- 


122  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

ally  control  the  water  communication  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Skenesborough. — Burgoyne's  attention  had, 
from  the  first,  been  attracted  towards  this  eminence, 
and  lie  had  directed  Lieutenant  Twiss,  his  chief  en- 
gineer, to  ascertain  whether  its  summit  was  accessible. 
On  the  4th,  Lieutenant  Twiss  reported  that  Mount 
Defiance  held  the  entire  command  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Mt.  Independence,  at  the  distance  of  about  fourteen 
hundred  yards  from  the  former,  and  fifteen  hundred 
yards  from  the  latter,  and  that  a  practicable  road  could 
be  made  to  the  summit  in  twenty-four  hours.  On  re- 
ceiving this  report,  Burgoyne  ordered  the  road  opened 
and  a  battery  constructed  for  light  twenty-four  pound- 
ers, medium  twelves  and  eight-inch  howitzers.  This 
arduous  task  was  pushed  with  such  activity,  that,  dur- 
ing the  succeeding  night,  the  road  was  completed,  and 
eight  pieces  of  cannon  were  dragged  to  the  top  of  the 
hill. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  summit  of  Mount 
Defiance  glowed  with  scarlet  uniforms,  and  the  guns  of 
its  batteries  stood  threateningly  over  the  American 
forts.  "  It  is  with  astonishment,"  says  Doctor  Thacher, 
in  his  Military  Journal,  "that  we  find  the  enemy  have 
taken  possession  of  an  eminence  called  Sugar-Loaf  Hill 
or  Mount  Defiance,  which,  from  its  height  and  proxim- 
ity, completely  overlooks  and  commands  all  our  works. 
The  situation  of  our  garrison  is  viewed  as  critical  and 
alarming ;  a  few  days  will  decide  our  fate.  We  have 
reason  to  apprehend  the  most  fatal  effects  from  their 
battery  on  Sugar-Loaf  Hill."  General  St.  Clair  im- 
mediately called  a  council  of  war,  by  whom  it  was 
decided  to  evacuate  the  works,  before  Reidesel  should 
block  up  the  narrow  passage  south  of  East  Creek,  which, 
with  the  lake  to  Skenesborough,  presented  the  only 
possible  way  of  escape. 

The  decision  of  the  council  was  concealed  from  the 
troops  until  the  evening  order  was  given.  Abouttwelve 
o'clock  at  night,  directions  were  issued  to  place  the  sick 
and  wounded  and  the  women  on  board  two  hundred 
long-boats,  which  had  been  collected  for  this  purpose. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  123 

The  boats  were  then  loaded  deep  with  cannon,  tents 
and  provisions,  and,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
started  for  Skenesborough,  accompanied  by  five  armed 
galleys  and  a  guard  of  six  hundred  men,  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Long  of  the  New  Hampshire  troops. 
The  boats  reached  Skenesborough  about  three  o'clock 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  where  the  fugitives 
landed  to  enjoy,  as  they  fancied,  a  temporary  repose, 
but  in  less  than  two  hours,  they  were  startled  by  the 
reports  of  the  cannon  of  the  British  gun-boats,  which 
were  firing  at  the  galleys  lying  at  the  wharf.  By  un- 
common effort  and  industry,  Burgoyne  had  broken 
through  the  chain,  boom,  and  bridge  at  Ticonderoga, 
and  had  followed  in  pursuit  with  the  Royal  George 
and  Inflexible,  and  a  detachment  of  the  gun-boats  un- 
der Captain  Carter.  The  pursuit  had  been  pressed 
with  such  vigor  that,  at  the  very  moment  when  the 
Americans  were  landing  at  Skenesborough,  three  regi- 
ments disembarked  at  the  head  of  South  Bay,  with  the 
intention  of  Occupying  the  road  to  Fort  Edward.  Had 
Burgoyne  delayed  the  attack  upon  the  galleys  until 
these  regiments  had  reached  the  Fort  Edward  road,  the 
whole  party  at  Skenesborough  would  have  been  taken 
prisoners.  Alarmed,  however,  by  the  approach  of  the 
gun-boats,  the  latter  blew  up  three  of  the  galleys,  set 
fire  to  the  fort,  mill,  and  store-house  and  retired  in 
great  confusion  towards  Fort  Ann.  Occasionally  the 
overburdened  party  would  falter  on  their  retreat,  when 
the  startling  cry  of  "  march  on,  the  Indians  are  at  our 
heels,"  would  revive  their  drooping  energies  and  give 
new  strength  to  their  weakened  limbs.  At  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning  they  reached  Fort  Ann,  where  they 
were  joined  by  many  of  the  invalids,  who  had  been 
carried  up  Wood  Creek  in  boats.  A  number  of  the 
sick,  with  the  cannon,  provisions,  and  most  of  the  bag- 
gage were  left  behind  at  Skenesborough. 

On  the  7th,  a  small  reinforcement  sent  from  Fort 
Edward,  by  Schuyler,  arrived  at  Fort  Ann.  About 
the  same  time,  a  detachment  of  British  troops  ap- 
proached within  the  sight  of  the  fort.  This  detachment 


124  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

was  attacked  from  the  fort,  and  repulsed  with  some 
loss ;  a  surgeon,  a  wounded  captain  and  twelve  pri- 
vates were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Americans.  The 
next  day  Fort  Ann  was  burned,  and  the  garrison  re- 
treated to  Fort  Edward,  which  was  then  occupied  by 
General  Schuyler. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Long  had  started  for  Skenes- 
borough,  St.  Clair  with  the  main  army  retired  by  land, 
towards  Castleton.  The  garrison  of  Ticonderoga  crossed 
the  bridge,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and,  at 
four  o'clock,  the  rear  guard,  under  Colonel  Francis, 
left  Mount  Independence.  Up  to  this  time  a  continued 
connonade  from  one  of  the  batteries  was  kept  up, 
in  the  direction  of  Mount  Hope,  in  order  to  allay  any 
suspicions  of  the  movement,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 
The  whole  army  would  have  departed  unobserved,  had 
not  General  De  Fermoy,  who  commanded  on  Mount 
Independence,  foolishly  and  regardless  of  express  or- 
ders, set  fire  to  the  house  he  had  occupied.  The  light 
of  this  conflagration  revealed  the  whole  scene  to  the 
British,  and,  at  the  same  time,  threw  the  Americans 
into  great  disorder ;  many  of  them  now  pushing  for- 
ward without  any  regard  to  discipline  or  regularity.  At 
Hubbardton  the  stragglers  were  collected,  and  the 
ranks  again  organized.  After  a  halt  of  two  hours  at 
this  place,  the  main  army  proceeded  toward  Castleton, 
leaving  Colonels  Francis,  Warner,  and  Hale  behind 
with  a  rear-guard  of  about  thirteen  hundred  men. 

As  soon  as  the  retreat  from  Ticonderoga  was  dis- 
covered by  the  British,  General  Fraser  started  in  pur- 
suit with  his  brigade,  and  was  soon  followed  by  Rei- 
desel.  The  British  troops  continued  the  pursuit  during 
the  day,  and,  at  night,  lay  on  their  arms  near  the  posi- 
tion occupied  by  the  American  rear-guard,  at  Hub- 
bardton. Early  on  the  following  morning,  Fraser, 
with  eight  hundred  men,  advanced  to  the  attack,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  arrival  of  Reidesel,  who  was  ap- 
proaching with  his  column.  The  attack  was  resisted 
by  seven  hundred  under  the  command  of  Colonels 
Francis  and  Warner.  Colonel  Hale,  who  had  charge 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  125 

of  a  body  of  invalids  belonging  to  different  regiments, 
continued  his  retreat  towards  Castleton.  Hale's  con- 
duct on  this  occasion  was  severely  censured  by  many, 
but  not  more  so  than  was  St.  Clair  for  the  abandon- 
ment of  Ticonderoga.  Colonel  Hale's  retreat  and  his 
subsequent  surrender  appear  to  have  been  influenced  by 
the  dictates  of  humanity,  for  his  men  were  in  no  con- 
dition to  enter  into  the  fight.  He  unfortunately  died 
before  he  had  an  opportunity  to  justify  his  conduct. 

The  battle  between  the  two  parties  was  severe  and 
bloody,  and  at  one  time  the  British  Grenadiers  recoiled 
before  the  galling  fire  of  Francis'  and  Warner's  men, 
but  Reidesel  coming  up  at  that  moment,  the  Grena- 
diers rallied,  and,  sustained  by  the  whole  Britih  sline,  re- 
turned to  the  charge  with  fixed  bayonets.  The  Ameri- 
can troops  now  broke  and  fled  in  every  direction.  In 
this  action  the  Americans  lost  three  hundred  and 
twenty-four  men,  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 
Among  the  killed  was  the  gallant  Qolonel  Francis, 
who  fell  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  On  the  part  of 
the  English,  the  loss  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-three, 
including  Major  Pratt  and  about  twenty  inferior  offi- 
cers. Hale  was  intercepted  on  the  road  to  Castleton, 
and  surrendered.  St.  Clair,  as  soon  as  he  had  been 
joined  by  the  remnant  of  Warner's  men,  retreated  to 
Fort  Edward,  where  he  arrived  on  the  12th  of  July. 

The  loss  to  the  Americans,  by  the  evacuation  of 
Ticonderoga,  was  very  great ;  no  less  than  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-eight  pieces  of  cannon,  together  with 
all  the  boats,  provisions,  stores,  and  magazines  were 
either  destroyed  or  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British. 
Among  the  trophies  of  the  day  was  the  Continental 
Standard,  which  the  Americans  had  neglected  to  take 
with  them  on  their  retreat. 

The  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Indepen- 
dence was  condemned  throughout  the  country.  The 
people  were  surprised  and  alarmed.  They  were  not 
prepared  for  so  disastrous  an  event,  for  it  was  generally 
believed  that  the  works  on  Lake  Champlain  were  in  a 
condition  to  resist  any  attack  of  the  enemy.  Both 


126  HISTORY   OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Schuyler  and  St.  Clair  were  severely  and  unjustly  cen- 
sured ;  the  former  for  not  sending  on  reinforcements, 
when  he  had  none  to  send,  and  the  latter  for  omitting 
to  fortify  Mount  Hope  and  Mount  Defiance,  when  his 
whole  force  was  insufficient  to  man  the  defenses  of  the 
forts  themselves.  That  a  great  error  was  committed, 
in  relying  too  much  upon  the  supposed  strength  of  the 
positions  at  Ticonderoga,  cannot  be  denied ;  but  there 
were  no  just  grounds  for  attaching  blame  to  either  of 
the  officers  in  command. 

The  attention  of  the  Government  had  been  directed 
to  the  exposed  situation  of  this  post,  and  St.  Clair  had 
repeatedly  called  for  more  troops  for  its  defence.  As 
late  as  the  25th  of  June,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen- 
eral Schuyler,  in  which  he  vividly  portrayed  Ins  want 
of  men,  and  his  fears  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  resist 
Burgoyne,  who  was  known  to  be  approaching  with  a 
large  force.  In  that  letter,  he  says  :.  "  I  cannot  help 
repeating  to  you  the  disagreeable  situation  we  are  in, 
nor  can  I  see  the  least  prospect  of  our  being  able  to  de- 
fend the  post,  unless  the  militia  come  in ;  and  should 
the  enemy  protract  their  operations,  or  invest  us  and 
content  themselves  with  a  single  blockade,  we  are  infal- 
libly ruined." 

On  the  28th  of  June,  General  Schuyler  writes  to 
General  Washington,  at  the  same  time  enclosing  St. 
Glair's  letter  of  the  25th,  and  says,  "  Should  an  acci- 
dent happen  to  the  garrison  of  Ticonderoga,  and  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne  makes  a  push  to  gain  the  south  part  of 
the  lake,  I  know  of  no  obstacle  to  prevent  him :  com- 
paratively speaking,  I  have  not  a  man  to  oppose  him ; 
the  whole  number  at  the  different  posts  at  and  on  this 
side  of  the  lake,  including  the  garrisons  of  Fort  George 
and  Skenesborough,  not  exceeding  seven  hundred  men, 
and  these  I  cannot  draw  away  from  their  several  sta- 
tions, in  every  one  of  which  they  are  already  too  weak." 

These  letters  show  the  real  state  of  the  frontier  at 
the  time.  Burgoyne  was  approaching  with  an  army  of 
over  seven  thousand  veterans,  besides  Canadians  and 
Indians,  while  St.  Clair  had  three  thousand  four  him- 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  127 

dred  men  to  defend  a  circle  of  works  which  could  not 
ba  properly  manned  with  less  than  ten  thousand,  and 
Schuyler  had  not  troops  enough  with  him  to  defend  the 
posts  in  the  rear.  It  has  been  said  that,  considering  his 
want  of  men,  St.  Clair  should  have  evacuated  the 
works  before  the  approach  of  the  British  army.  Such 
a  course  would  have  received  as  great  censure  as  did 
the  retreat.  It  would  have  been  considered  inexcus- 
able. Besides  the  question,  whether  all  or  even  a  part 
of  these  works  should  be  abandoned,  had  already  been 
presented  to  the  consideration  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  New  York,  and  that  body,  on  the  6th  of  May 
preceding,  had  passed  a  resolution  declaring  that,  in 
their  opinion,  the  abandoning  of  any  part  of  the  works 
of  Ticonderoga,  would  be  productive  of  great  evils.  A 
copy  of  this  resolution  was  at  the  time  forwarded  to 
General  Gates,  who  replied  that  he  saw  no  reason  for 
abandoning  any  part  of  the  post  at  Ticonderoga,  and 
that  he  had  good  ground  to  hope  there  would  never  be 
any  necessity  of  evacuating  or  surrendering  any  portior 
of  the  position,  if  the  body  of  the  eastern  troops  arrive 
in  any  reasonable  time. 

When  Burgoyne  placed  his  batteries  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  Mount  Defiance,  he  effectually  destroyed  all 
hopes  of  resistance,  on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  The 
only  alternative  was  to  surrender  or  evacuate  the  works. 
By  adopting  the  latter  course,  St.  Clair  saved  the  greater 
portion  of  his  garrison,  and  preserved  the  nucleus  of 
an  army,  which  ultimately  baffled  Burgoyne,  and  com- 
pelled him  to  surrender.  At  the  moment,  however,  all 
classes  of  people  were  astonished  at  the  unexpected 
result.  It  is  "  an  event  of  chagrin  and  surprise,"  says 
Washington,  "  not  apprehended  nor  within  the  compass 
of  my  reasoning."  The  Council  of  Safety  of  New  York 
stigmatized  it  as  a  measure  "  highly  reprehensible,"  and 
"  probably  criminal."*  Among  the  people,  the  most 

*  "  The  evacuation  of  Tionderoga  appears  to  the  council  highly  re- 
prehensible, and  it  gives  them  great  pain  to  find  that  a  measure  so 
absurd  and  probably  criminal  should  be  imputed  to  the  direction  of 
General  Schuyler,  in  whose  zeal,  vigilance  and  integrity  the  council 


128  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

violent  charges  were  made  against  both  St.  Clair  and 
Schuyler.  It  was  even  asserted  they  had  both  been 
bribed  by  Burgoyne,  who,  it  was  said,  had  fired  silver 
bullets  into  the  fort,  which  were  gathered  by  order  of 
St.  Clair,  and  divided  between  him  and  Schuyler. 

This  report  would  seem  too  ridiculous  to  gain  credit 
with  any  one,  and  yet  we  have  the  authority  of  Wilkin- 
son, who  was  Adjutant-general  to  Gates,  that  respect- 
able men  questioned  him,  with  much  gravity,  as  to  its 
truth.*  Time  softened  the  disappointment  of  the 
people,  and  when  the  true  condition  of  the  case  was 
known,  both  officers  were  fully  reinstated  in  the  confi- 
dence of  the  nation. 

When  St.  Clair  joined  Schuyler  at  Fort  Edward, 
their  whole  force,  including  recent  arrivals,  did  not  ex- 
ceed four  thousand  four  hundred  men,  who  were  im- 
mediately employed  in  obstructing  the  roads  leading  to 
Lake  Champlain,  and  in  placing  impediments  to  the 
navigation  of  -Wood  Creek.  So  thoroughly  was  this 
work  accomplished  that,  when  Burgoyne  afterwards 
_,d  his  army  on  this  route,  he  was  often  unuble  to 
advance  more  than  one  mile  in  twenty-four  hours. 
Schuyler  remained  at  Fort  Edward  until  the  latter 
part  of  the  month  of  July,  when  he  fell  back  as  far  as 
Saratoga,  and  subsequently  retired  to  Stillwater.  While 
at  Foit  Edward,  he  removed  the  provisions,  stores,  boats 
and  arms  from  Fort  George,  and  on  the  17th  of  July, 
destroyed  the  fort  itself. 

We  left  Burgoyne  at  Skenesborough  anctFraser  and 
Reidesel  at  Hubbardton,  on  the  7th  of  July.  After  the 
retreat  of  St.  Clair  towards  Fort  Edward,  these  two 
columns  occupied  the  ground  between  Castleton  and 
Skenesborough  ;  the  English  right  wing  occupying  the 
heights  at  Skenesborough,  in  two  lines,  the  right  flank 

repose  the  highest  confidence" —  Letter  to  Major-general  Putnam, 
July  11,  1777.  To  this  letter  from  the  Council  of  Safety  General  Put- 
nam replied,  "  I  am  greatly  astonished  at  the  evacuation  of  Ticon- 
deroga  in  the  manner  it  is  represented  :  Think  there  is  great  fault 
somewhere." 

*  See  also  Doctor  Thacher's  Military  Journal,  where  he  gravely 
denies  the  truth  of  the  absurd  report. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  129 

to  the  mountain  and  the  left  to  Wood  Creek ;  the  Ger- 
man troops  were  stationed  at  Castleton,  with  detach- 
ments on  the  roads  leading  to  Rutland  and  Poultney  ; 
the  centre  was  occupied  by  Eraser's  corps. — A  third 
column  of  the  English  army,  under  General  Phillips, 
was  engaged  in  getting  the  gun-boats,  transports  and 
provisions,  over  the  falls  of  the  outlet,  into  Lake 
George.  This  was  accomplished  after  great  labor  and 
fatigue.  Phillips  then  advanced  as  far  as  Fort  George, 
where  he  established  a  depot  and  erected  magazines  for 
the  army. 

While  Burgoyne  was  at  Skenesborough,  he  issued  a 
proclamation  addressed  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  New 
Hampshire  Grants,  in  which  he  directed  them  under 
pain  of  military  execution,  to  send  deputations,  consist- 
ing of  ten  persons  or  more  from  each  township,  to  meet 
Colonel  Skene  at  Castleton,  "  who,"  adds  the  proclama- 
tion, "  will  have  instructions  not  only  to  give  further 
encouragement  to  those  who  complied  with  the  terms 
of  my  late  manifesto,  but  also  to  communicate  condi- 
tions upon  which  the  persons  arid  property  of  the  dis- 
obedient may  yet  be  spared."  As  soon  as  General 
Schuyler  saw  this  proclamation,  he  issued  an  order  that 
every  person,  who  had  taken  or  might  take  a  protection 
from  Burgoyne,  should  be  secured  and  sent  to  jail ;  at 
the  same  time  he  gave  notice,  by  a  counter  proclama- 
tion, that  all  who  should  join  with,  or  in  any  manner 
assist  or  hold  correspondence  with  the  English,  should 
be  considered  and  dealt  with  as  traitors. 

Burgoyne  had  placed  great  reliance  upon  the  discon- 
tent of  the  inhabitants  on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants, 
and  supposed  that  large  numbers,  if  not  the  whole  pop- 
ulation, would  join  his  army.  But  in  this  he  was  most 
sorely  disappointed,  for,  not  more  than  four  hundred 
royalists  or  disaffected  joined  him,  and  at  least  half  of 
these  he  represented  as  "  trimmers,  merely  actuated  by 
interest,"  in  whom  he  could  place  no  dependence.  He 
also  declared,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  George  Germain,  that 
the  New  Hampshire  Grants  abounded  in  the  most  ac- 
tive and  most  rebellious  race  on  the  continent,  who 

9 


130  HISTORY  OF    I.AKi:   CHAMPLAIN. 

hung  like  a  gathering  storm  upon  his  left. — This  opin- 
ion had  not  Been  formed  without  good  reasons,  as  we 
shall  now  see. 

When  the  column  under  General  Phillips  moved  up 
Lake  George,  the  posts  at  Tieonderoga  and  Mount  In- 
dependence were  left  with  a  guard  of  nine  hundred  and 
ten  men,  composed  of  the  53d  British  regiment,  four 
hundred  and  sixty-two  strong,  and  a  German  regiment, 
numbering  four  hundred  and  forty-eight  men,  rank  and 
file.  About  the  time  that  Burgoyne  had  collected  his 
troops  at  Fort  Edward,  General  Lincoln,  who  com- 
manded a  strong  detachment  of  militia,  stationed  at 
Manchester,  Vt.,  determined  to  make  a  diversion  in  the 
rear  of  the  British  line,  in  the  hopes  of  recovering  the 
Fort  of  Tieonderoga,  and  thus  cutting  off  Burgoyne's 
communication  with  Canada. 

General  Lincoln  ordered  Colonel  Warner,  with  a  de- 
tachment of  the  Massachusetts  militia,  to  move  in  the 
direction  of  Mount  Independence,  in  order  to  make  a 
diversion,  and  an  attack  in  that  quarter,  if  the  occasion 
should  favor  one.  Another  detachment  was  sent, 
under  Colonel  Woodbridge,  against  Skenesborough  and 
Fort  Ann,  while  Colonel  Brown,  with  Herrick's  regi- 
ment of  Rangers,  and  some  Militia  and  Volunteers, 
was  to  cross  the  lake  at  the  narrows,  pass  through  the 
woods  and  take  the  outposts  of  Tieonderoga,  and  the 
works  at  the  landing  of  Lake  George.  These  places 
were  to  be  attacked  at  the  same  time.  Captain  Ebene- 
zer  Allen,  with  his  rangers,  was  to  leave  Brown  and 
Herrick  at  a  certain  point  and  take  Mount  Defiance, 
and  then  rejoin  them  to  attack  Tieonderoga,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  General  Warner.  The  plan  thus  arranged, 
they  set  out  for  Pawlet  for  their  different  places  of  des- 
tination. Brown  had  to  cross  the  lake  in  the  night  and 
to  pass,  for  fourteen  miles,  over  rugged  mountains, 
which  he  accomplished,  reaching  the  head  of  Lake 
George  the  day  before  the  attack.  Before  it  became 
dark,  sentinels  were  placed  at  different  points  on  Mount 
Defiance  and  in  the  direction  of  the  other  British  posts, 
with  directions,  from  time  to  time,  to  give  "  three  hoots 


HISTORY  OF   LAKB  CHAMPLAIN.  131 

of  an  owl"  as  a  signal,  to  guide  the  main  party  on  their 
way,  through  the  darkness  of  night.  Colonel  Brown 
took  possession  of  Mount  Hope  and  of  a  block-house 
near  the  old  French  lines.  He  also  seized  two  hundred 
long-boate,  an  armed  sloop,  and  several  gun-boats,  sta- 
tioned to  defend  the  carrying-place,  and  captured  two 
hundred  and  ninety-three  soldiers,  at  the  same  time  re- 
leasing one  hundred  American  prisoners. 

But  the  most  difficult  task  was  the  capture  of  the 
British  works  on  the  summit  of  Mount  Defiance ;  which 
could  be  reached  only  by  a  cut  way  well  defended  and 
guarded.  Captain  Allen  and  his  men  had,  after  great 
difficulty  and  labor,  nearly  reached  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  when  they  found  a  cliff  they  could  not  climb 
in  the  ordinary  way.  Allen  therefore  ordered  one  of 
his  men  to  stoop,  and  stepping  on  his  back,  clambered 
to  the  top,  which  was  only  large  enough  to  hold  eight 
men  without  their  being  discovered  by  the  enemy.  As 
soon  as  the  men  had  reached  the  top,  he  ruslied  upon 
the  garrison,  already  alarmed  by  the  firing  ;it  the  land- 
ing, closely  followed  by  his  little  party,  who,  says  Allen, 
"came  after  me  like  a  stream  of  hornets  to  the  charge." 
The  garrison  immediately  fled,  with  the  exception  of 
one  man  who  attempted  to  fire  a  cannon  at  the  assail- 
ants. "  Kill  the  gunner,"  cried  Allen,  at  the  same 
time  discharging  his  musket.  At  this  the  man  ran 
away  with  the  match  in  his  hand,  leaving  the  Ameri- 
cans in  full  possession  of  the  works.  The  terrified  sol- 
diers rushed  down  the  cut  way  and  were  captured  by 
Major  Waite,  who  had  been  stationed  on  the  bridge  to 
intercept  their  retreat.  The  only  resistance  offered, 
during  the  night,  was  by  Lieutenant  Lord  of  the  53d 
regiment,  who  commanded  at  the  block-house,  and 
who  did  not  yield  until  several  pieces  of  ordinance, 
taken  from  the  sloop,  had  been  brought  against  it. 

Colonel  Warner  did  not  arrive  near  Mount  Indepen- 
dence until  early  the  next  morning.  "  He  moved  so  ex- 
tremely slow,"  says  Ira  Allen.*  "  that  he  saved  his  own 

•  History  of  Vermont— London,  1798. 


182  HISTORY;  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

men  and  hurt  none  of  the  enemy."  When  he  came  up, 
his  force  was  united  with  Colonel  Brown's  and  the  fort- 
ress of  Ticonderoga  summoned,  but  Brigadier-general 
Powel,  who  commanded  there,  refused  to  surrender, 
declaring  that  he  was  resolved  to  defend  himself  to  the 
last.  Brown  and  Warner  continued  a  cannonade 
against  the  fort  for  four  days,  when  finding  the  guns 
made  no  impression  upon  the  walls,  they  abandoned 
the  siege  and  withdrew  their  forces  to  the  lower  Lake 
George.  Here  they  embarked  on  the  gun-boats  which 
they  had  captured,  and  on  the  24th  sailed  against  and 
attacked  Diamond  Island.  On  this  island  a  large 
quantit}7  of  public  property  had  been  stored,  which  was 
guarded  by  two  companies  of  the  47th  regiment,  under 
Captain  Aubrey.  In  this  attack  the  Americans  were 
repulsed  with  a  small  loss,  and  retreated  to  the  east 
shore  of  the  lake,  pursued  by  several  gnu-boats  which 
were  stationed  at  the  island.  As  soon  as  the  Ameri- 
cans landed,  they  burned  their  boats,  crossed  over  the 
mountains  to  Lake  Champlain  and  returned  to  Lincoln's 
camp  at  Pawlet* 

The  fate  of  Burgoyne's  army,  after  it  left  the  lake, 
is  well  known.  On  the  30th  of  July,  the  three  divisions 
were  united  at  Fort  Edward.  On  the  16th  of  August, 
Colonel  Baum  was  defeated  at  Bennington,  by  a  body 
of  New  England  Militia,  under  General  Stark.  St. 
Leger  raised  the  seige  of  Fort  Stanwix  on  the  28th  of 
that  month,  and  passing  through  Canada  and  Lake 
Champlain,  soon  after  joined  Burgoyne,  between  whom 
and  General  Gates  a  battle  had  been  fought  at  Still- 
water,  on  the  18th  of  September,  in  which  the  advant- 
ages were  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  latter.  After  the 
action  Burgoyne  retired  as  far  as  Saratoga,  where 
another  severe  action  was  fought  on  the  7th  of  October. 
On  the  17th  of  that  month  "  articles  of  capitulation  " 
were  signed  and  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and 

*  In  this  expedition  the  American  recovered  the  Continental  stand- 
ard which  had  been  left  behind  when  St.  Glair's  army  evacuated 
the  fort  in  July. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  133 

ninety-one  British  and  German  troops  were  surrendered 
as  prisoners  of  war.* 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  surrender  reached 
Ticonderoga,  the  troops  stationed  in  that  vicinity  pre- 
pared for  an  immediate  retreat  to  Canada.  A  few  open 
boats  now  held  what  remained  of  the  proud  host,  who 
three  months  before  had  ascended  the  lake  with  all  the 
pomp  and  panoply  of  war.  Then,  their  banners  floated 
gayly  in  the  breeze,  and  the  clear  notes  of  the  bugle 
startled  the  echoes  of  the  surrounding  hills ;  now,  with 
watchful  eyes  they  hurried  silently  along,  and  carefully 
avoided  the  shores,  lest  the  thick  and  tangled  forest 
might  contain  some  bold  and  unseen  foe.  Nor  were 
their  fears  without  foundation ;  for,  as  they  passed  the 
mouth  of  the  Bouquet,  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by 
a  party  of  "  Green  Mountain  Boys,"  led  by  Captain 
Ebenezer  Allen,  who  cufcoff  the  rear  division  of  boats 
and  captured  fifty  men,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  bag- 
gage and  military  stores. 

Thus  closed  the  military  operations  of  the  year  on 
Lake  Champlain.  The  works  at  Ticonderoga  were  not 
reoccupied  by  the  Americans,  nor  was  this  section  of 
country  the  scene  of  any  important  military  movement 
during  the  remainder  of  the  war.  In  the  fall  of  1777, 
Gates,  who  had  been  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Board 
of  War,  conceived  the  project  of  directing  a  descent 
upon  Canada,  in  mid-winter,  by  the  way  of  Lake 
Champlain,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  stores 
and  shipping  at  St.  Johns  on  the  Richelieu.  The  con- 
duct of  the  expedition  was  entrusted  to  the  Marquis  de 
Lafayette,  who  repaired  to  Albany,  full  of  high  hopes 
and  panting  for  an  opportunity  to  distinguish  himself 
in  a  separate  command.  But  the  project  failed  from  the 

*  After  his  exchange,  which  took  place  in  1781  or  1782,  Burgoyne 
was  commissioned  as  Colonel  of  the  4th  or  King's  Own  regiment  of 
foot  and  soon  afterward  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the 
forces  in  Ireland  and  was  also  one  of  the  privy  counsellors  there.  After 
resigning  his  position  in  Ireland  he.  was  in  constant  attendance  as  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  was  one  of  the  managers 
on  the  impeachment  of  Warrer  Hastings.  He  died  August  4, 1792,  of 
gout  and  was  buried  in  the  cloister  of  Westminster  Abbey. 


134  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

want  of  troops.  Scarcely  twelve  hundred  men  could 
be  mustered,  and  the  greater  part  of  these  were  half 
naked  and  unarmed.  "  The  Generals  only,"  says 
Marshall,  "  were  got  in  readiness."  Lafayette  was 
much  annoyed,  but  ihe  obstacles  were  insuperable. 

In  1780,  Sir  John  Johnson  made  a  descent  upon 
Johnstown,  near  the  Mohawk,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
covering his  silver  plate,  which  he  had  secreted  in  the 
cellar  of  his  house,  at  the  time  of  his  flight  in  1776. 
Having  accomplished  this  object,  Johnson  retired  to 
Canada  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cham  plain,  taking  with  him 
about  forty  prisoners.  He  was  pursued  by  Governor 
Clinton  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  militia,  as  far  as 
Ticonderoga.  Here  Clinton  was  joined  by  a  party  of 
"Green  Mountain  Boys,"  but  from  a  want  of  boats 
the  pursuit  was  discontinued.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  a  party  of  two  hundred  ajid  three  Indians,  led  by 
seven  tories  and  refugees,  passed  up  the  Winooski 
and  attacked  the  flourishing  settlement  of  Royalton, 
Vt.,  burning  twenty-one  houses  and  taking  fourteen  of 
the  principal  inhabitants  prisoners. 

In  October,  Major  Carleton  was  sent  up  the  lake 
from  St.  Johns,  with  a  fleet  of  eight  large  vessels  and 
twenty-six  long-boats,  containing  upwards  of  one 
thousand  men,  in  order  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of 
Sir  John  Johnson,  who  directed  an  attack  upon  the 
Schoharie  and  Mohawk  county.  On  the  10th  and 
llth,  Major  Carleton  surprised  Fort  George  and  Fort 
Ann,  and  took  the  garrisons  prisoners.  In  the  two 
assaults  the  British  lost  four  officers  and  twenty-three 
privates  killed ;  while  the  loss  of  the  Americans,  in 
killed  and  prisoners,  was  two  captains,  two  lieuten- 
ants and  one  hundred  nnd  fourteen  privates.  Carleton 
remained  at  Ticonderoga  until  the  first  of  November, 
when  he  returned  with  the  boats  and  shipping  to  St. 
Johns. 

In  the  spring  of  1781,  the  Iroquois  Chief,  Thayenda- 
negea,  (Brant),  meditated  an  expedition  against  the 
Oneidas,  who  had  been  driven  for  safety  to  a  position 
about  fifteen  miles  west  of  Saratoga.  This  enterprise 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  135 

received  the  sanction  of  Sir  Frederick  Haldimand,  then 
Governor  of  Canada,  who  proposed  to  send  a  party  of 
sixty  loyalists  under  .Major  Jessup,  the  commandant  at 
Point  Au  Fer,  towards  Fort  Edward,  to  co-operate 
with  Brant's  Indians,  who  were  to  rendezvous  on 
Carleton*  Island,  in  Lake  Champlain.  For  some  cause 
now  unknown,  the  project  was  never  executed. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  the  British,  upon 
several  occasions,  entered  the  lake  with  their  whole 
fleet,  but  attempted  nothing  beyond  landing  at  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga.  The  mysterious  and,  at  the 
time,  inexplicable  movements  of  the  enemy,  in  this 
quarter,  kept  the  northern  frontier  in  a  state  of  cease- 
less inquietude  and  alarm.  The  army  about  Albany 
was  small  and  weak,  and  the  American  Generals  were 
greatly  perplexed  at  these  strange  mano3iivres  of  the 
fleet.  Whenever  it  ascended  the  lake,  an  attack  was 
expected  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Edward,  but  when, 
a  few  weeks  afterwards,  the  fleet  would  withdraw  with- 
out making  any  hostile  demonstration,  the  idea  pre- 
vailed that  the  movement  was  intended  to  create  a 
diversion,  while  the  actual  blow  was  to  be  struck  in 
another  quarter.  The  mystery  of  these  singular  pro- 
ceedings was  not  fully  explained  until  several  years 
afterwards,  when  it  became  publicly  known  that  the 
leaders  of  the  people  on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants 
had  been,  during  the  years  1780  and  1781,  in  frequent 
and  secret  correspondence  with  the  authorities  of  Can- 
ada in  relation  to  the  political  destiny  of  the  Grants. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  enter  into  an  investigation  as 
to  the  character  or  effect  of  this  correspondence.  The 
subject  properly  belongs  to  the  History  of  Vermont, 
and  has  already  been  ably  reviewed  by  her  historians. 
It  is  enough  here  to  say,  that  on  the  part  of  the  Brit- 
ish, the  negotiation  consisted  of  repeated  endeavors  to 
persuade  the  leaders  on  the  Grants  to  abandon  the 
American  cause,  and  to  declare  the  country  a  British 
Province,  and  on  the  other  side^  of  evasive  and  am- 

*  This  is  a  small  island  near  the  south  end  of  Grant  Isle.  It  is 
now  called  Stave  Island. 


136  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

biguous  answers,  calculated  to  keep  alive  the  hopes  of 
the  British  authorities,  but  not  intended  to  pledge  the 
leaders  or  the  people  to  any  certain  action. 

When  the  remnant  of  Burgoyne's  army  retreated  to 
Canada  in  1777,  the  British  retained  possession  of  Point 
Au  Fer,  which  they  occupied  as  a  military  post.  They 
also  held  a  small  block-house  on  the  west  side  of  the 
island  of  North  Hero.  These  places  were  not  given  up 
until  some  time  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

Batta — Burgoyne's  Narrative — Thacher's  Military  Journal— Thum 
bull's  Reminiscences  of  his  own  Times — Stone's  Life  of  Joseph 
Brant — Journal  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress — Lossing's 
Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,  etc.,  etc. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  137 


CHAPTER  IX. 

From  1783  to  1800 — Progress  and  extent  of  Settlements  on  the  borders 
of  Lake  Champlain — Personal  Sketches — Trade  and  Commerce  of 
the  Country — Population,  etc.,  etc. 

We  have  now  traced  the  history  of  Lake  Champlain, 
from  its  first  exploration  by  the  Europeans,  in  1609, 
to  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution ,  a  period  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years.  This  history,  thus 
far,  has  been  little  more  than  a  narrative  ot  continued 
strife  and  contention.  Champlain  was  guided  to  the 
lake  by  a  war  party  of  Indians,  who  were  seeking  their 
enemies  upon  the  well  known  battle  ground  of  that 
early  day.  He  wrote  the  name  of  the  lake  upon  its  sands 
with  the  blood  of  the  Iroquois,  and  proclaimed  it,  for 
the  first  time,  amid  the  cries  of  tortured  and  dying 
prisoners.  For  many  years  afterwards  the  French  and 
English  colonists  crimsoned  its  waters  with  each  other's 
blood,  and  when,  after  a  short  interval  of  comparative 
quiet,  the  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  forth,  the  tide 
of  battle  almost  instinctively  returned  to  its  old  chan- 
nel. It  is  not  surprising  that,  under  such  circum- 
stances, but  little  progress  had  yet  been  made  towards 
the  settlement  and  improvement  of  the  country. 

In  1783,  the  settlements  near  the  lake  were  princi- 
pally confined  to  the  few  towns  in  Vermont  opposite 
and  south  of  Crown  Point.  In  that  year  the  whole 
population  upon  the  borders  of  the  lake,  on  both 
sides,  did  not  exceed  six  hundred. 

For  several  years  after  the  declaration  of  Peace, 
emigration  to  the  north-eastern  part  of  Vermont  was 
retarded  by  the  still  pending  dispute  between  the 
claimants  under  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  and  the 
state  of  New  York,  in  regard  to  land  titles.  This  con- 
troversy had,  however,  lost  much  of  its  acrimony,  and 
all  parties  were  prepared  for  his  final  adjustment,  which 
took  place  in  1790.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1791, 


138  HISTOItY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Vermont  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  separate  and 
independent  State.  In  this  year  the  population  of  the 
lake  towns  was  six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seven- 
ty-three. 

In  1782,  a  party  of  royalists  emigrated  from  St. 
Johns  on  the  Richelieu,  and  commenced  several  im- 
provements in  the  town  of  Alburgh.  Soon  afterwards 
Ira  Allen  obtained  a  grant  of  the  town,  from  the 
authorities  of  Vermont,  and  brought  actions  of  eject- 
ment against  the  royalists,  which  however  terminated 
in  their  favor.  A  claim  to  the  township  was  after- 
wards advanced  by  Sir  George  Young,  under  color  of 
a  grant  from  the  Duke  of  York,  which  was  also  suc- 
cessfully resisted  by  the  settlers. 

Isle  La  Motte  was  settled  in  1785,  by  Ebenezer  Hyde, 
Enoch  Hall  and  William  Blanchard,  and  was  organized 
as  a  town  in  1790.  In  1802,  the  name  of  the  town  was 
changed  to  Vineyard,  which  it  retained  until  1830, 
when  the  original  name  of  Isle  La  Motte  was  again 
resumed.  The  islands  of  North  Hero  and  Grand  Isle 
were  chartered  as  a  town  in  1779,  but  no  settlement 
was  commenced  there  until  1783.  In  March  of  that 
year  Ebenezer  Allen,*  Alexander  Gordon  and  Enos 
Wood  visited  the  township  for  the  purpose  of  locating 
their  respective  claims.  Wood,  who,  by  agreement 
between  the  parties  was  entitled  to  the  first  choice, 
located  upon  the  south  end  of  the  north  island  ;  Gordon 
took  the  north  end  of  the  south  island,  and  Allen  the 
south  end.  In  August,  .all  three  brought  on  their 
families  and  commenced  permanent  improvements. 
For  the  first  few  years  the  inhabitants  of  these  islands, 
in  common  with  those  of  the  neighboring  towns,  suf- 
fered great  inconvenience  from  the  want  of  grist-mills, 

*  Ebenezer  Allen  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  he  moved  into  Poultney,  and  in  company  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Thomas  Ashley,  commenced  tlie  first  settlement  in 
that  town.  lie  was  soon  afterwards  appointed  Captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  Minute  Men,  and  served  in  Colonel  Herrick's  regiment  of 
Rangers  during  the  Revolution.  He  led  the  attack  against  the 
British  post  on  Mount  Defiance  in  September,  1777.  and  afterwards 
captured  about  fifty  of  the  rear-guard  of  Burgoyne's  army  on  their 
retreat  to  Canada. 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  139 

the  most  accessible  being  at  Whitehall  and  Granville, 
from  eighty  to  one  hundred  miles  distant. 

The  town  of  Milton  was  first  settled  in  1783,  Georgia 
in  1784,  and  St.  Albans  in  1785.  In  1782  McClain, 
Low  and  Boardman  moved  on  to  Colchester  Point,  and 
in  the  same  year  Ira  Allen  returned  to  the  lower  falls 
of  the  Winooski,  where  he  soon  'after  erected  mills,  a 
forge  and  a  shop  for  making  anchors.* 

The  first  residents  in  the  town  of  Burlington  aban- 
doned their  improvements  at  the  time  of  Burgoyne's 
invasion  in  1777,  Stephen  Lawrence,  Frederick  Saxton, 
Simeon  Tubbs  and  John  Collins  moved  into  the  town 
and  renewed  the  settlement  in  1783.  The  first  town 
meeting  was  held  in  March,  1787,  when  Samuel  Lane 
was  chosen  town  clerk.  In  1789  Stephen  Keyes  built 
a  store  in  the  village,  which  was  opened  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  under  the  charge  of  Orange  Smith.  Another 
store  was  soon  afterwards  started  by  Zacheus  Peaslee. 

In  the  year  1787,  there  were  about  twenty  families 
in  the  town  of  Shelburne.  Charlotte  was  first  per- 
manently settled  in  1784,  by  Derick  Webb  and  Elijah 
Woolcut.  John  McNeil  soon  afterwards  moved  into 
the  town.  He  was  elected  its  first  town  clerk  and 
representative.  In  1790  he  removed  to  the  lake  shore 
and  -established  a  ferry  between  that  place  and  the 
town  of  Willsborough  (now  Essex),  N.  Y.  Ferrisburgh 
was  settled,  after  the  war,  by  Abel  Thompson,  Gideon 
Hawley,  Timothy  Rogers,  and  others.  In  1783  Amos 
Spafford,  Shadrack  Hathway,  Eben  Murray  and 
Ephraim  and  Win.  Fisher  and  John  Charter  com- 
menced a  settlement  at  Mt.  Independence,  in  the  town 
of  Orwell,  and  the  next  year  Pliny  Smith  and  others 
moved  into  the  town  with  their  families.  The  same 
year,  Barber,  Durfee  and  Noble  moved  into  the  town 
of  Benson.* 

*  Ira  Allen  was  the  first  Secretary  of  Vermont.  Subsequently  he 
was  State  Treasurer,  Member  of  the  Council,  and  Surveyor-General. 
He  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major-General  of  Militia,  and,  ir.  1795,  was 
sent  to  Europe  to  purchase  a  supply  of  arms  for  the  State. 

t  For  further  information,  in  regard  to  the  first  settlement  of  Ver- 
mont, see  Zadock  Thompson's  Gazetteer  of  Vermont — a  most  able 
and  elaborate  work. 


140  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAM  PLAIN. 

Let  us  now  cross  to  the  western  or  New  York  side 
of  the  lake.  In  1784  the  County  of  Washington  was 
organized,  and  originally  included  all  the  territory  lying 
west  of  and  adjoining  the  lake.  In  1788  that  portion, 
contained  in  the  present  counties  of  Clinton,  Essex 
and  Franklin,  was  taken  from  Washington  and  formed 
into  a  new  county,  which  was  called  Clinton.  Essex 
was  taken  from  Clinton  in  1799,  and  Franklin  in  1808. 
The  town  of  Plattsburgh  was  organized  us  a  part  of 
Washington  County  in  1785,  and  included  all  the 
territory  within  the  limits  of  the  present  towns  of  Beek- 
mantown,  Saranac,  Schuyler's  Falls,  and  also  portions 
of  Old  Peru  and  Old  Chateaugay.  It  was  the  only 
town  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  until  1788,  when 
Champlain,  Willsborough  and  Crown  Point  were 
organized.  Willsborough  originally  included  the 
present  towns  of  Chesterfield,  Essex,  Lewis  and  a 
part  of  Old  Peru.  Crown  Point  embraced  all  the 
territory  lying  between  Willsborough  and  Lake  George. 

When  Burgoyne  entered  the  United  States,  all  the 
persons  residing  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  abandoned 
their  habitations,  and  either  joined  the  American  army, 
or  retired  to  the  neighborhood  of  Albany.  They  re- 
turned immediately  after  the  Peace,  and  were  soon 
followed  by  others ;  but  the  progress  of  the  settlement 
of  the  county  was  very  slow  for  the  first  ten  years.  In 
1790  the  population  of  Clinton  County,  which  then 
embraced  the  whole  territory  west  of  the  lake,  was  to 
be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Saranac  and  the  Bouquet 
rivers,  and  did  not  then  exceed  sixteen  hundred  and 
fourteen. 

Prior  to  the  revolution  William  Gilliland  had  com- 
menced a  settlement  at  the  falls  of  the  Bouquet  river, 
from  which  he  was  taken  and  sent  to  Albany  by  order 
of  General  Gates,  in  1776.  After  the  war  he  returned, 
accompanied  or  soon  followed  by  Aaron  Fairchild, 
Jonathan  Lynde,  Joseph  Sheldon,  Abram  Aiken,  Mar- 
tin Pope,  Melchor  and  John  Hoffnagle,  John  More- 
house  and  others,  who  in  1784  settled  at  or  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Bouquet.  In  1783  Jacque  Rous  emigrated 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  141 

from  Canada  and  settled  at  Rouses  Point.  John  La 
Frombois  and  Francis  La  Monte  returned  to  their 
farms  on  the  lake  shore  in  Chazy,  in  1784.  Prisque 
Ashline  lived  on  the  Corbeau  river  in  1786,  and  Pliny 
Moore  in  Champlain  in  1785.  In  1787  Robert  Cochran 
and  Nathaniel  Mallory  resided  on  the  lake  shore,  near 
the  mouths  of  the  Ausable  rivers;  Moses  Dickson, 
Jabez  Allen  and  Lot  and  John  Elmore  on  the  rich  lands 
lying  between  those  rivers,  and  Edward  Everett  and 
John  Stanton  in  what  is  now  called  the  "  Union,"  in  the 
town  of  Peru.  In  August,  1783,  Benjamin  Mooers 
commenced  the  first  permanent  settlement  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  town  of  Beekmantown.  Mr. 
Mooers  was  a  native  of  Haverhill,  Massachusetts.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the  army  as  a  volunteer, 
and  in  1777  was  appointed  Ensign  in  Hazen's  regiment, 
and  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant 
and  Adjutant.  On  the  26th  of  July,  1783,  Mr.  Mooers 
left  Poughkeepsie  in  a  bateau,  accompanied  by  Francis 
Monty  and  son,  Zacheus  Peaslee,  Pierre  Boilan,  Charles 
Cloutier,  Antoine  Lavan,  Joseph  Latournau,  Antoine 
Lasambert,  P.  Aboir  and  John  Fessie.  The  party  ar- 
rived at  Albany  on  the  29th,  where  Mr.  Mooers  was 
joined  by  John  La  Frombois,  who  was  returning  to  his 
farm  on  the  lake  shore  in  Chazy.  On  the  31st  they 
left  Albany  and  proceeded  up  the  Hudson  about  five 
miles,  where  the  boat  was  partially  unloaded  and  taken 
over  the  rapids  to  Still  water.  On  the  2d  August  they 
reached  Fort  Miller,  and  at  noon  of  the  3d  arrived  at 
Fort  Edward.  The  baggage  and  boat  were  drawn 
across  the  country  to  Fort  George,  where  the  party 
procured  another  boat,  and  the  same  evening  sailed 
nine  miles  down  the  lake  and  encamped  on  a  small 
island  near  its  eastern  shore.  The  next  day  they 
reached  the  lower  end  of  Lake  George,  and  on  the  6th 
drew  the  boats  around  the  falls  at  Ticonderoga  into 
Lake  Champlain,  and  sailed  down  the  lake  with  a  fair 
wind,  passing  Crown  Point  about  sundown.  On  the  8th 
the  party  landed  on  Valcour  Island,  where  they  were 
delayed  by  head  winds  until  Sunday  morning,  the  10th 


H2  HISTOKY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

of  August,  when  they  set  sail,  and  the  same  day  ar- 
rived at  Point  Au  Roche.  The  next  day,  the  whole 
party,  except  La  Frombois,  who  had  gone  on  to  visit 
his  old  place  a  few  miles  below,  commenced  work,  and 
in  ten  days  completed  a  log  house  and  cleared  a  small 
patch  of  land  for  turnips.  One  of  the  first  labor  of  the 
new  settlers,  after  building  the  house,  was  to  cut  a 
quantity  of  grass  for  the  support  of  the  oxen  during 
the  winter.  This  grass  grew  wild  in  many  places  upon 
the  low  lands  near  the  shore  of  the  lake  and  for  several 
years  was  the  only  fodder  used  in  the  country.  By  the 
llth  September  Mr.  Mooers  had  cleared  up  a  small 
field  near  his  house,  which  he  sowed  to  wheat  and 
turnips. 

He  subsequently  removed  to  Plattsburgh,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death  in  February,  1838,  in  the  80th 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Clinton 
County,  was  four  times  elected  Member  of  the  Assem- 
bly and  once  of  the  State  Senate,  and  was  County 
Treasurer  for  forty-eight  years.  During  the  war  of 
1812  he  held  the  office  of  Major-general  of  Militia  and 
co-operated  with  and  materially  aided  the  United 
States  military  officers  in  the  defense  of  the  north- 
eastern frontier  of  the  State. 

In  1781,  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  order  to  encourage  the  raising  of  troops  for  the 
defence  of  the  State,  passed  certain  acts  offering 
bounties  of  unappropriated  lands  to  such  officers  and 
soldiers  as  should  enlist  within  a  specified  time.  These 
bounties  were  divided  into  rights  of  five  hundred 
acres  each,  and  there  was  a  provision  in  the  act,  that 
whenever  any  number  of  persons  entitled  collectively 
to  sixty-one  rights,  or  30,500  acres,  should  join  in  a 
location,  the  lands  so  located  should  be  laid  out  in  a 
township  of  seven  miles  square,  and  that  the  remaining 
860  acres,  in  such  township,  should  be  reserved  for 
Gospel  and  School  purposes.  These  rights  were  some- 
times retained  by  the  soldiers,  but,  more  frequently,  a 
company  of  land  speculators  would  furnish  money  to 
the  recruiting  officers,  to  be  paid  as  a  bounty  to  those 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  143 

who  on  enlistment  should  transfer  their  certificates  to 
the  company.  In  this  way  a  large  portion  of  the  un- 
appropriated lands  of  the  State,  subject  to  location, 
passed  into  the  hands  of  a  few  individuals. 

Judge  Zephaniah  Platt,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  thirty- 
two  other  persons,  having  united  in  the  purchase  of 
the  number  of  rights  requisite  to  entitle  the  holders  to 
a  township,  located  them,  in  1784,  upon  the  lands 
which  had  formerly  been  embraced  in  the  warrant  is- 
sued by  the  English  Government  to  Charles  De  Fre- 
denburgh.  A  survey  of  the  land  was  made  in  the  same 
year  by  Captain  Nathaniel  Platt  and  Captain  Simon  R. 
Reeves,  two  of  the  proprietors,  and  a  patent  issued  by 
the  State  to  Zephaniah  Platt  in  1785.* 

The  proprietors  were  active  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
the  immediate  settlement  of  the  tract.  Ten  "  gift  lots  " 
were  set  apart  for  the  first  ten  persons  who  should 
move  into  the  town  with  their  families,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made,  at  an  early  day,  for  the  building  of 
Mills,  &c. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1784,  twelve  of  the  pro- 
prietors met  at  the  house  of  Judge  Platt,  in  Pough- 
keepsie, where  they  agreed  to  become  jointly  interest- 
ed in  building  a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill  and  a  forge  on 
the  Saranac,  near  its  mouth.  They  also  agreed  to  fur- 
nish twine  for  a  seine,  and  to  build  a  piragua  "of  a 
moderate  size."  Attached  to  the  agreement  was  an. 
estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  the  mills,  from  which 
it  appears  that  three  hundred  and  sixteen  dollars  were 

*  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Plattsburgh 
Old  Patent,  and  of  the  number  of  acres  allotted  to  each.  Thomas 
Tread  well.  Nehemiah  Benedict  and  Thomas  Benedict,  1120  acres; 
Nathaniel  Platt,  950;  Nathaniel  Tom,  480;  Burnet  Miller,  480;  Ezra 
L.  Hommedieu,  320;  Peter  Tappan,  480;  John  Miller,  640;  Benjamin 
Walker,  320;  John  Berrien,  480;  Jonathan  Lawrence,  480;  Benjamin 
Smith,  480;  Israel  Smith,  960;  Melancton  Smith,  1120;  Zephaniah 
Platt.  900:  William  Floyd.  320;  Benjamin  Conklin,  500;  Andrew 
Billings,  400;  John  Adams,  1600;  Thomas  Stone,  1000;  Lewis  Barton, 
200;  EbenezerMott,200;  Zachous  Newcomb,  1200;  Platt  Rogers,  1500; 
General  Schuyler,  950;  Benjamin  Titus,  400;  Charles  Platt,  800;  John 
Smith,  400;  Albert  Adriance,  200;  Samuel  Smith,  200;  Jacobus  S. 
Swartout,  200;  Simon  R  Reeves,  2800;  Zephaniah  and  Nathaniel 
Platt,  4050;  Zephaniah  and  Nathaniel  Platt  and  S.  R.  Reeves,  4300. 


144  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

appropriated  for  mill-stones,  irons,  nails,  bolting-cloth 
and  saw,  and  sixty-five  dollars  for  flour  and  bread. 
One  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  were  divided  equally  be- 
tween pork  and  New  England  rum — a  pint  of  rum  to 
a  pound  of  pork  being  a  workman's  requisite  in  those 
roistering  days. 

Among  those  who  received  the  "  gift  lots "  were 
Jacob  Ferris,  Thomas  Allen,  John  B.  Hartwick,  Der- 
rick Webb,  Jabez  Pettit,  Moses  Soper,  and  Kinner 
Newcomb.  Ferris  received  a  deed  for  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  river 
Saranac,  at  its  mouth,  which  covered  all  that  part  of 
the  present  village  of  Plattsburgh  lying  east  of  the 
river.  In  1785,  Charles  McCreedy,  Melancton  L. 
Woolsey  and  several  others  moved  into  the  town. 
Cumberland  Head  was  then  supposed  to  present  the 
most  eligible  point  for  business,  and  the  first  stores  es- 
tablished in  the  town  were  located  there.  After  a  few 
years,  the  stores  were  removed  to  the  present  village, 
but  "the  Head"  still  continued  to  be  a  place  of  some 
importance.  It  had  a  direct  communication  with  Ver- 
mont, by  ferry,  and  for  a  long  time  was  the  usual  land- 
ing place  for  vessels  navigating  the  lake. 

Probably  few  towns  in  the  State  of  New  York  can 
claim  among  their  first  inhabitants  and  proprietors,  a 
greater  number  of  men  of  talent  than  Plattsburgh. 
Conspicuous  in  this  class  were  Melancton  Smith, 
Zephaniah  Platt,  Thomas  Tredwell  and  Peter  Sailly. 

MELANCTOX  SMITH,  one  of  the  proprietors,  was  a 
native  of  Jamaica,  Queen's  County,  L.  I.,  where  he  was 
born  in  1744.  While  a  boy  he  was  placed  in  a  retail 
store  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  resided  in  that  town  until 
his  removal  to  the  city  of  New  York  in  1784.  At  the 
early  age  of  thirty-one,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  dele- 
gates to  represent  the  county  of  Dutchess  in  the  first 
Provincial  Congress  of  New  York,  which  met  in  May 
1775,  and  soon  became  a  leading  and  distinguished 
member  of  that  body.  He  was  one  of  the  committee 
who  prepared  the  celebrated  address  to  the  Canadians, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  struggle. 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  145 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1776,  he  was  appointed  captain 
commandant  of  three  companies  of  Militia  raised  in 
Dutchess  and  West  Chester,  and  the  next  year  was 
placed  on  the  commission  to  prevent  and  subdue  insur- 
rection and  dissatisfaction  in  thos,e  counties.  He  was 
in  the  same  year  appointed  the  first  sheriff  of  Dutchess 
county,  which  office  he  held  for  four  years  and  was 
afterwards  made  a  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas.* 

In  1778,  though  then  a  resident  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  Mr.  Smith  was  chosen  by  the  people  of  Dutchess 
County,  to  the  convention  which  met  in  June  of  that 
year  to  consider  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
as  prepared  by  the  Convention  at  Philadelphia  in  May 
of  the  preceding  year.  In  the  discussions  and  deliber- 
ations of  this  body,  he  exhibited  talents  and  inform- 
ation of  the  highest  order,  and  was  ranked  as  one  of 
the  ablest  opponents  of  Hamilton  and  Livingston  on 
the  floor  of  the  Convention.  When  it  was  ascertained 
that  a  sufficient  number  of  States  had  so  decided  as  to 
render  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  certain,  Mr. 
Smith  gave  up  his  objections.  "  This  was  deemed  at 
the  time,"  says  Chancellor  Kent,  "a  magnanimous  sac- 
rifice of  preconceived  principles  and  party  discipline 
for  the  national  welfare,  and  the  effort  was  the  greater 
inasmuch  as  he  had  to  desert  his  friend,  Governor  Clin- 
ton, who  persevered  to  the  end  in  his  hostility  to  the 
Constitution."! 

On  6th  March,  1790,  he  was  appointed  by  the  legis- 
lature of  the  State  of  New  York  one  of  the  commission- 
ers on  the  part  of  the  state  to  agree  with  the  commis- 
sioners of  Vermont  as  to  the  boundary  between  that 
State  and  New  York. 

Mr.  Smith  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  wras 
Sarah  Smith,  of  New  Jersey,  who  died  in  1770  ;  his  sec- 
cond,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Richbill  Motte  of  Long  Isl- 
and, whom  he  married  in  1771,  and  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  Richbill,  Melancton,  Sidney  and  Phoebe, 

*  Journal  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress, 
t  Chancellor  Kent,  as  quoted  in  Appendix  to  Thompson's  History 
of  Long  Island. 

10 


146  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

all  of  whom  afterwards  resided  in  Plattsburgh.  He 
died  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the  29th  of  July,  1798, 
in  the  55th  year  of  his  age. 

"  Meluncton  Smith,"  says  Mr.  Dunlap,  "  was  a  man 
of  rough  exterior,  powerful  in  bodily  appearance,  and 
undaunted  in  expressing  his  mind,  which  he  did  in 
plain  language,  but  with  a  sarcasm  that  was  cutting 
and  a  humor  correct  and  playful."  "  He  was,"  says 
Chancellor  Kent,  "  very  amiable  in  his  temper  and  dis- 
position, of  a  religious  cast,  and  very  fond  of  metaphys- 
ical and  logical  discussions,  in  which  he  was  a  master. 
In  private  life  he  was  kind,  affectionate  and  communi- 
cative, and  as  benevolent  as  amiable  ;  indeed  his  charity 
knew  no  limits.  While  the  army  was  encamped  near 
his  residence  in  Dutchess  County,  the  females  of  the 
family  were  constantly  employed  in  making  clothing 
for  the  soldiers.  "  I  could  only  make  up  my  bedding 
by  stealth,"  Mrs.  Smith  afterwards  used  to  say,  "  for  if 
the  Judge  came  in  and  found  me  sewing  upon  a  pair  of 
sheets,  he  would  request  the  cloth  cut  into  shirts  for 
the  half  naked  soldiers  of  Washington's  army." 

ZAPHANIAH  PLATT  was  possessed  of  a  clear,  sound 
and  discriminating  mind,  and  was  classed  among  the 
first  men  of  the  State.  In  1776,  when  forty-one  years 
of  age,  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  from  Dutchess  county 
to  the  first  Provincial  Congress,  and  occupied  a  prom- 
inent position  in  that  body ;  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  con- 
vention called  for  forming  a  constitution  for  the  State. 
He  was  for  a  short  time  commissary  for  the  troops  un- 
der command  of  Brigadier-general  Clinton.  In  June, 
1777,  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Dutchess  Com- 
mon Pletis,  and  the  same  year  was  elected  one  of  the 
State  Senators  for  the  middle  district,  then  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Dutchess,  Ulster  and  Orange.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  State  Convention  which  as- 
sembled at  Poughkeepsie,  in  June,  1788,  to  deliberate 
on.  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States. 

In  the  Spring  of  1777,  the  counties  of  Dutcness  and 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIK.  147 

West  Chester  were  filled  with  disaffected  persons,  who, 
it  was  feared,  upon  the  first  advance  of  the  British 
troops  out  of  New  York  city,  would  attack  those  friend- 
ly to  the  American  cause.  To  prevent  this,  the  Provin- 
cial Convention  appointed  Mr.  Platt  and  two  other 
members  of  their  body  a  committee  to  clear  those  coun- 
ties of  all  dangerous  and  disaffected  persons.  "  You 
are,"  were  the  instructions  to  the  committee,  "  on  every 
occasion,  by  every  means  in  your  power,  (torture  ex- 
cepted,)  to  compel  the  discovery  and  delivery  of  all 
spies  and  emissaries  of  the  enemy,  who  you  may  have 
reason  to  believe  are  concealed  in  any  part  of  the  coun- 
try through  which  you  may  make  your  progress,  and 
upon  due  proof  immediately  execute  them  in  terrorem"* 
The 'committee  executed  the  delicate  and  responsible 
duty  confided  to  them  with  firmness,  and  with  the 
most  impartial  justice. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Platt  engaged  largely  in  the  pur- 
chase of  military  land  warrants  and  located  them  prin- 
cipally upon  Lake  Champlain.  He  removed  from 
Poughkeepsie  to  Plattsburgh  about  the  year  1801, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  September,  1807. 

THOMAS  TREADWELL,  another  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors of  Plattsburgh,  was  born  in  Smithtown,  Long 
Island,  in  1742,  and  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1764. 
He  was  well  educated,  and  highly  distinguished  for  his 
good  sense,  prudence  and  firmness.  In  1755,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Convention.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Convention  that  framed  the  State 
Constitution,  and  was  one  of  the  Senators  under  that 
constitution.  In  1788,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
vention which  assembled  to  consider  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  in  which  he  co-operated  with 
Clinton,  Melancton  Smith,  Yates  and  Lansing.  He 
was  made  Judge  of  Probate  of  Suffolk  county  in  1783, 
and  held  the  office  until  surrogates  were  appointed, 
when  he  received  the  appoinment  of  surrogate,  which 
he  held  until  1791. f  Soon  after  the  organization  of 

*  Journal  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress, 
t  Thompson's  History  of  Long  Island. 


148  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Clinton  county,  he  removed  to  Plattsburgh  and  was 
chosen  a  Senator  for  the  northern  District.  In  1807, 
he  was  appointed  Surrogatecof  Clinton  County,  which 
office  he  held  until  the  spring  of  1831.  He  was  for 
many  years  the  last  surviving  member  of  the  venerable 
assembly  that  framed  the  first  Constitution  of  the 
State  ;  and  died  on  the  30th  of  January,  1832,  enjoying 
to  the  last  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
men. 

PETER  SAILLY  was  a  native  of  Loraine,  France.  He 
first  visited  the  United  States  in  1783,  and  made  a  tour 
of  exploration  through  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  and 
the  country  bordering  on  Lake  Champlain.  In  1785, 
he  returned  to  France  for  his  family,  with  whom  he 
arrived  at  the  city  of  New  York  in  the  summer  of  that 
year,  and,  having  passed  the  winter  in  Albany,  settled 
the  following  spring  in  the  town  of  Plattsburgh.  Mr. 
Sailly  was  a  man  of  great  probity,  possessing  -strong 
powers  of  mind  and  a  clear  discernment  of  character. 
He  was  active,  enterprising  and  firm  ;  a  master  of  order 
and  method  and  scrupulously  exact  in  his  business 
transactions.  Although  educated  in  a  foreign  land,  he 
brought  to  the  country  of  his  adoption  a  mind  deeply 
imbued  with  the  principles  of  liberty,  which  he  care- 
fully cherished  and  enlarged  in  after  life.  He  held 
several  offices  of  public  trust,  and  to  the  hour  of  his 
death  enjoyed  the  unlimited  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
men.  In  1804,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress 
from  the  Saratoga,  Clinton  and  Essex  district,  and  by 
his  strict  attention  to  business  and  a  judicious  and 
unostentatious  course,  won  the  confidence  of  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son, by  whom  he  was  soon  after  appointed  Collector  of 
Customs  for  the  district  of  Champlain — an  office  he 
held  through  the  successive  administrations  of  Madison 
and  Monroe  until  his  death  in  1826 ;  a  period  of  over 
eighteen  years. 

The  duties  of  Collector,  during  a  portion  of  this  time, 
were  most  delicate  and  responsible,  as  upon  the  revenue 
officers  devolved. the  arduous  and  unpopular  service  of 
putting  in  execution  the  embargo  and  non-intercourse 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  149 

laws.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty  Mr.  Sailly  never 
hesitated,  but,  upon  all  occasions,  enforced  the  laws 
with  promptness  and  strict  impartiality.  Kind  and 
affable  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-citizens,  he 
wounded  the  feelings  of  none  by  a  rough  or  unnecessary 
display  of  power,  while  his  firmness  and  determination 
of  character  were  too  well  understood,  for  any  one  to 
hope,  by  the  strongest  opposition,  to  deter  him  from 
the  prompt  discharge  of  his  public  duties. 

The  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Ses- 
sions for  Clinton  County  was  held  at  Plattsburgh,  on 
the  28th  of  October,  1788.  Judge  Charles  Platt 
presided.  Peter  Sailly,  Theodorus  Platt,  William  Mc- 
Auley,  Pliny  Moore,  and  Robert  Cochran,  were  the 
associate  justices;  Benjamin  Mooers  was  sheriff: 
Melancton  L.  Woolsey,  clerk ;  John  Frontfreyde, 
coroner ;  and  Robert  Paul,  Jonathan  Stephenson, 
Lewis  Lizotte,  and  Jonathan  Lynde,  constables.  One 
attorney,  only,  was  in  attendance,  who  appeared  in 
behalf  of  the  people ;  the  prisoners  were  defended  by 
the  clerk.*  The  first  Circuit  and  Oyer  and  Terminer, 
for  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  was  held  by  Judge 
Benson,  at  the  Court-house  in  Plattsburgh,  on  the  18th 
of  August,  1796.  The  next  year  Judge  Lansing  held  a 
circuit  court  at  the  "  Block-house "  in  Willsborougli, 
where  the  court  .also  convened  in  1798. 

In  1789  George  Clinton  and  Robert  Yates  were 
opposing  candidates  for  Governor.  The  canvass  was 
so  warmly  contested  that  the  supporters  of  Governor 
Clinton  secured  his  re-election  by  the  small  majority  of 

*  CHAKLES  PLATT  was  a  native  of  Long  Island  and  a  brother 
of  Zephaniah  Platt.  He  removed  to  Plattsburgh  soon  after  the 
organization  of  the  town,  was  elected  its  first  supervisor,  and 
for  several  years  was  town  clerk.  He  was  first  judge  of  the 
Clinton  Common  Pleas  until  the  year  1804,  and  in  1808  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  which  he  held  until  1822.  ME- 
LANCTON L.  WOOLSEY  was  the  youngest  son  of  Melancton  T. 
Woolsey  of  Long  Island,  and  in  early  life  had  served  as  an  officer  in 
the  army  and  as  aid  to  Governor  Clinton.  He  removed  to  Platts- 
burgh in  1785,  was  soon  after  appointed  Clerk  of  Clinton  County  and 
was,  for  several  years,  Collector  of  Customs  for  the  Champhun 
District, 


150  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  votes.  The  entire  vote 
of  Clinton  County,  at  this  election,  was  forty-five, 
which  was  thus  divided  between  the  two  candidates. 

CLINTON.        YATES. 
Crown  Point,  10 

Willsborough,  15  3 

Pittsburgh,  17* 

In  1793  the  vote  of  the  County  was  increased  to  one 
hundred  and  thirty-four.  George  Clinton  was  elected 
Governor  over  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  in  1801,  by  a 
majority  of  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty-five. 
At  this  time  Essex,  had  been  set  off  from  Clinton,  and 
several  new  towns  had  been  organized  in  both  counties. 
This  year  the  vote  was  as  follows  : 

CLINTON  COUNTY: 

CLINTON.  VAN  RENSSELAER. 
Champlain,                      42  45 

Lisbon,  21  71 

Pittsburgh,  107  21 

Chateaugay,  11  62 

Peru,  90  24 

271  213 
ESSEX  COUNTY  : 

Willsborough,                 50  82 

Crown  Point,                   10  6 

Elizabethtown,               69  9 

Jay,                                 46  13 

175  110 

The  vote  of  both  counties  in  1803  was  749,  which 

*  The  poll  list  of  this  election  was  not  preserved,  but  it  can  be  con- 
jectured who  cast  these  seventeen  votes,  when  it  is  known  that  the 
following  seventeen  persons  were  elected  to  town  offices  in  Platts- 
burgh,  at  that  election.  Charles  Platt,  Kinner  Newcomb,  Theodorus 
Platt,  Melancton  L.  Woolsey,  Abraham  Beeman,  John  Stephenson, 
John  Cochran,  Jr.,  Nathan  Averill,  Cyrenus  Newcomb,  Edward 
Everett,  Peter  Sailly,  John  B.  Hardwick,  Jonas  Allen,  Moses  Soper, 
Titus  Andrews,  Benjamin  Mooers,  and  Lucius  Keynolds. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  151 

was  increased  to  929,  in  1804.  Two  years  later  the 
number  of  votes  polled  in  both  counties  was  1,247. 

The  increase  of  population  on  both  sides  of  the  lake, 
from  1790  to  1800,  was  nearly  two  hundred  per  cent. 
During  this  decade  considerable  progress  was  made  in 
agriculture  ;  particularly  on  the  Vermont  side,  where 
the  attention  of  the  great  body  of  the  inhabitants  was 
directed  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  the  raising  of 
sheep  and  the  production  of  flax.  The  manufacture  of 
pot  and  pearl  ash  was  also  carried  on  to  a  considerable 
extent.  Some  attention  had  likewise  been  given  to  the 
manufacture  of  iron.  As  early  as  1^92,  four  forges 
were  erected  in  Addison  County  and  two  in  Chitten- 
den,  and  prior  to  the  year  1800,  several  other  forges 
had  been  erected  at  other  points,  upon  both  sides  of 
the  lake.  These  forges  were  principally  supplied  from 
a  bed  near  Crown  Point,  which  is  yet  celebrated  for 
the  quality  and  quantity  of  its  ore.*  The  country 
abounded  with  maple  trees  from  which  large  quantities 
of  sugar  were  annually  made.  Many  of  the  maples 
were  of  very  large  size  and  it  was  not  unusual  for  the 
farmers  to  make  from  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds  of  sugar, 
in  the  course  of  the  season,  from  a  single  tree.f 

The  first  settlers  were  generally  hunters  and  derived 
considerable  profit  .from  the  sale  of  peltry,  as  the  country 
then  abounded  with  moose,  deer,  bears,  beavers,  foxes, 
wolves,  rabbits,  martins,  etc.  The  lake  was  also  cele- 
brated for  the  abundance,  variety  and  delicate  flavor  of 
its  fish.  Salmon,  maskinonge,  bass,  shad,  pike,  pickerel, 
and  perch  were  caught  in  great  abundance  in  all  parts 
of  the  lake,  and  in  the  mouths  of  the  principal  streams. 
The  lower  part  of  the  lake  near  Wind-mill  Point,  and 
the  Big  Chazy  river  at  the  foot  of  the  first  rapids,  were 
especially  celebrated  for  their  salmon  fisheries.  Cham- 

*  When  Kalra  was  at  Crown  Point,  in  1749,  lie  noticed  black  sand 
upon  the  shores  of  the  lake,  but  he  pays  it  was  not  then  known 
whether  there  were  iron  mines  in  the  neighborhood  or  not.  Iron  ore 
was  first  found  within  the  present  limits  of  Clinton  County,  in  1800, 
when  the  "  Winter  Bed  "  was  discovered  by  Mr.  George  Shaffer.  The 
"  Arnold  Bed  "  was  first  opened  in  1809. 

t  Williams'  History  of  Vermont. 


152  HISTOKV   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

plain,  in  the  account  of  his  expedition  in  1609,  de- 
scribes a  large  fish  found  in  the  hike,  which  the  Indians 
called  chaousarou,  and  which  grew  to  the  length  of 
eight  or  ten  feet.  He  saw  one  live  feet  long,  "as thick 
as  a  thigh,  with  a  head  as  big  as  two  fists,  with  jaws 
two  feet  and  a  half  long  and  a  double  set  of  very  sharp 
and  dangerous  teeth."  "  The  form  of  the  body,"  says 
Champlain,  "•  resembles  that  of  the  pike,  and  it  is  armed 
with  scales  that  a  thrust  of  a  poniard  cannot  pierce ; 
and  is  of  a  silver  gray  color.  The  point  of  the  head  is 
like  that  of  a  hog."*  This  fish  made  war  upon  all  others 
in  the  lake,  who  fled  in  terror  at  its  approach.  It  was 
probably  the  esox  longirostris  or  the  esox  osxem  of 
Mitchell.  The  species,  of  smaller  size,  still  exists  in 
the  lake,  and  is  occasionally  caught  near  Isle  La  Motte..f 

A  large  quantity  of  pine  and  oak  timber  was  annually 
cut  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  which  was  rafted,  through 
the  Richelieu  and  St.  Lawrence,  to  Quebec,  from 
whence  it  was  shipped  to  England.  The  timber  trade 
had  furnished  employment  for  the  early  settlers  before 
the  Revolution.  After  the  war,  it  greatly  increased, 
and,  for  many  years,  formed  an  important  traffic  for 
the  inhabitants  residing  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake. 
The  amount  of  sawed  lumber  exported  at  that  early 
day  was  inconsiderable,  for  although  there  were  saw- 
mills upon  all  the  principal  streams  on  both  sides  of  the 
lake,  they  were  generally  rude  buildings,  erected  and 
used  solely  to  supply  the  wants  of  their  immediate 
neighborhood. 

The  commerce  of  the  lake  was  principally  limited  to 
a  small  export  and  import  trade  with  Canada.  Vermont 
imported  rum,  wines,  brandy,  gin,  coarse  linens  and 
woolens,  tea,  coffee,  chocolate,  and  many  articles  nec- 
essary for  building.  Her  exports  were  grain  of  all 
kinds,  bar  iron,  wrought  nails,  pot  and  pearl  ashes, 
beef,  pork,  lumber,  peltry,  maple  sugar  and  some  flax.J 

*  Voyages  de  la  Nouv.  France,  1609. 

t  See  DE  KAY'S  description  of  the  Gar  Fish  and  of  the  Buffalo 
Bony  Pike,  in  the  Natural  History  of  New  York, 
t  Williams'  History  of  Vernont. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  153 

The  exports  on  the  New  York  side  were  lumber,  pot 
and  pearl  ashes,  peltry  and  iron.  Large  quantities  of 
grain  and  provisions  were  brought  from  Vermont  and 
Canada,  to  supply  the  inhabitants  of  Clinton  and  Essex 
counties,  who,  from  the  first,  had  been  allured  from  the 
pursuits  of  agriculture,  by  the  attractions  of  the  lumber 
trade. 

Large  tracts  of  land,  lying  in  Clinton  county,  were 
set  apart  in  1784  and  1786  for  Canadian  and  Nova  Sco- 
tia refugees,  and  for  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
State  as  had  served  in  the  United  States  Army  and 
were  entitled  to  land  bounties,  under  the  act  of  1782. 
These  tracts  were  surveyed  and  subdivided,  and  many 
of  the  lots  were  occupied  under  the  State  Grants.  The 
greater  portion,  however,  was  forfeited  for  want  of  ac- 
tual occupation,  and  the  lands  were  afterwards  patent- 
ed by  the  State  to  other  persons.  Among  those  acquir- 
ing title  by  patents  was  William  Bailey,  who  purchased 
an  extensive  tract  in  the  present  town  of  Chateaugay. 
He  moved  there  in  the  year  1800,  and  cleared  and  cul- 
tivated a  large  farm  near  the  "  Four  Corners."  At  an 
early  day  he  built  a  forge  on  the  Chateaugay  River, 
near  the  falls,  which  he  intended  to  supply  with  ore 
from  a  bed  at  the  south  end  of  the  Upper  Chateaugay 
Lake.  This  bed,  when  first  opened,  presented  every 
indication  of  containing  a  large  supply  of  ore,  but  it 
soon  became  apparently  exhausted,  and  the  forge  was 
abandoned.  Mr.  Bailey  also  erected  a  paper-mill  at 
Chateaugay,  which  continued  in  operation  for  several 
years.  This  was  the  first  paper-mill  in  northern  New 
York.* 

*  WILLIAM  BAILEY  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Bailey  of  Dutchess 
county.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  was  drafted  into  the  Dutchess 
county  militia,  and  was  sent  to  join  the  army  at  West  Point.  He 
first  visited  Lake  Champlain  in  1786,  and  aided  in  the  survey  of  the 
lands  belonging  to  Zephaniah  Platt  and  his  associates.  He  was  one  of 
the  Associate  Justices  of  the  Clinton  Common  Pleas  in  1779,  and 
was  appointed  First  Judge  of  the  County  in  1806.  In  1800,  he  was 
appointed  First  Major  in  Lt.  Col.  Benjamin  Mooers'  regiment  of  Mil- 
itia, and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1802.  and  again 
in  1806.  He  removed  to  Plattsburgh  in  1811,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  in  the  year  1840.  About  eighty  years  after  the  ore  bed 
was  abandoned  by  Judge  Bailey,  it  was  re-opened  by  the  Chateau- 


154  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Before  Mr.  Bailey  settled  in  Chateaugay,  he  was 
employed  by  the  State  to  survey  the  lands  set  apart  for 
the  Canadian  and  Nova  Scotia  refugees.  At  this  time 
ihe  British  occupied  Point  au  Fer  as  a  military  post, 
and  the  commanding  officer  there  refused  to  allow  the 
surveying  party  to  approach  or  to  continue  their  sur- 
vey to  the  Point.  The  claim  of  the  British  command- 
ant seems  to  have  included  all  the  territory  north  of  the 
Big  Chazy  River,  for  after  Judge  Pliny  Moore  settled 
in  Champlain  in  1785,  he  was  visited,  on  the  first  of 
each  month,  by  a  corporal  and  file  of  men,  sent  from 
Point  au  Fer  to  notify  him  that  his  claim  of  title  from 
the  state  of  New  York  would  not  be  recognized.  No 
attention  was  paid  to  these  repeated  warnings,  which 
continued  until  the  British  gave  up  possession  of  Point 
au  Fer,  about  the  year  1788. 

I  have  already  had  occasion  to  refer  to  the  conflict- 
ing claims  set  up  by  various  parties,  and  at  different 
times,  to  the  title  and  sovereignty  of  the  country  bor- 
dering on  Lake  Champlain.  The  last  of  these  claims  had 
been  adjusted  in  the  year  preceding  the  admission  of 
Vermont  into  the  Union.  In  the  year  1792,  the  Caugh- 
nawaga  and  St.  Regis  Indians,  calling  themselves  the 
Seven  Nations  of  Canada,  sent  a  deputation  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  State  of  New  York,  claiming  a  tract  of 
land  covering  a  large  portion  of  the  northern  part  of 
the  State.  A  commission,  consisting  of  Egbert  Benson, 
Richard  Varick  and  James  Watson,  was  appointed  to 
treat  with  the  Indian  Chiefs  upon  the  subject,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1796,  an  arrangement  was  effected,  by 
virtue  of  which  the  Seven  Nations  relinquished  their 
claim,  with  the  exception  of  the  St.  Regis  reservation, 
for  a  small  sum  in  hand  paid,  and  a  yet  smaller  perpet- 
ual annuity. 

As  soon  as  the  Seven  Nations  had  completed  their  ne- 
gotiations with  the  State  of  New  York,  they  advanced 
a  similar  claim  against  Vermont,  for  lands  lying  on  the 
east  side  of  Lake  Champlain. 

gay  Iron  &  Ore  Company  and  proved  to  be  a  very  large  deposit  of 
rich  and  valuable  ore. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  155 

The  subject  was  carefully  examined  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Vermont,  but  no  decision  was  had  until  the  next 
year,  when  the  Governor  of  the  State  was  requested  to 
inform  the  claimants  that  the  Legislature  was  of  the 
opinion  that  their  claim,  if  it  ever  existed,  had  long 
since  been  done  away  and  become  extinct,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  treaty  of  Peace,  in  1763,  between  the 
King  of  Great  Britain  and  the  French  King,  and  the 
treaty  of  Peace  between  the  King  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States,  in  the  year  1783 ;  and  that  the  In- 
dians had  now  no  real  claim  either  in  justice  or  equity. 
This  decision  was  communicated  to  the  Indians  and  the 
subject  was  dropped,  without  any  further  negotiations 
by  either  party. 

The  Caughnawagas  resided  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  near  the  Island  of  Montreal,  in  Canada. 
The  St.  Regis  Indians  lived  above  and  upon  the  same 
bank  of  that  river.  The  latter  still  occupy  the  lands 
reserved  to  them  by  their  agreement  with  the  State,  in 
1796.  These  Indians  were  quiet  and  peaceable,  and 
endeavored  not  only  to  preserve  order  within  their  own 
territory,  but  to  prevent  the  violation  of  the  laws  of 
New  York. 


156  HISTOKY   OF  LAKE  CHAA1PLAIN. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Difficulties  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States — Henry's 
Mission  to  New  England — President  Madison's  Message  to  Congress 
— Report  of  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs — Declaration  of  War  in 
June,  1812 — Troops  ordered  to  the  Champlain  Frontier — General 
Dearborn's  "  Morning  Visit "  in  Canada — His  Army  go  into  Winter 
Quarters — Affairs  at  St.  Regis — Operations  on  the  Ontario  Fron- 
tier during  the  Summer  of  1818 — British  and  American  Naval  force 
on  Lake  Champlain — Loss  of  the  Growler  and  Eagle — Colonel 
Murray  burns  the  Barracks  and  Public  Buildings  at  Plattsburgh. 

ALTHOUGH  Great  Britain  acknowledged  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  by  the  Treaty  of  1783, 
she  could  not  forget  that  they  had  once  formed  the 
largest  and  most  important  of  her  colonial  possessions. 
A  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  pervaded  the  British  nation, 
and  led  to  many  acts  of  oppression  towards  the  infant 
confederacy.  Vessels,  sailing  upon  the  high  seas  under 
the  American  flag,  were  boarded  by  her  ships  of  war ; 
American  seamen  were  impressed;  trade  with  neutral 
nations  was  forbidden,  and  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  invaded. 

In  June,  1807,  the  British  ship  of  war  Leopard  fired 
into  and  boarded  the  U.  S.  Frigate  Chesapeake,  while 
the  latter  vessel  was  yet  within  sight  of  the  American 
coast.  Ten  days  after  this  attack,  Mr.  Jefferson  issued 
a  proclamation  interdicting  all  intercourse  with  the 
British  armed  vessels  then  within  the  waters  of  the 
United  States.  This  proclamation  was  followed,  on 
the  22d  of  December,  of  the  same  year,  by  an  Act  of 
Congress  declaring  an  unlimited  embargo  on  every  port 
in  the  Union.* 

*  Troops  were  sent  to  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York  to  aid  the 
customs  officers  in  enforcing  the  embargo.  These  troops  numbered 
about  200  men,  and  consisted  of  a  portion  of  Capt.  Delaney's  and 
Capt.  Stephenson's  companies  of  militia,  a  company  of  U.  S.  In- 
fantry under  Capt.  Brooks,  and  a  company  of  U.  S.  Artillery,  under 
Capt.  Townsend.  The  militia  was  soon  mustered  out  of  service,  but 


HISTORY    OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  157 

During  the  year  1808,  negotiations  were  conducted 
between  the  two  countries  in  a  temper  that  promised  a 
pacific  termination  of  the  dispute :  but  no  definite 
arrangement  was  concluded.  The  United  States,  in  the 
meantime,  was  making  preparations  for  defense.  A 
large  number  of  gunboats  were  constructed  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  sea  coast,  and,  in  January,  1809,  the 
President  was  directed  to  equip  four  new  vessels  of 
war.  About  the  same  time,  Lieutenant  Melancton  T. 
Woolsey  was  sent  north  to  build  two  gun-boats  on  Lake 
Champlain,  and  a  brig  of  sixteen  guns  on  Lake 
Ontario. 

When  the  news  of  the  attack  upon  the  Chesapeake 
first  readied  the  people,  there  was  a  general  cry  of  in- 
dignation throughout  the  countiy.  Politics,  however, 
ran  high  at  the  time,  and  this  natural  and  national  sen- 
timent was  soon  consumed,  in  many  quarters,  by  the 
fire  of  party  strife.  As  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain 
progressed,  the  opposition  of  the  anti-administration 
party  developed  itself  more  and  more  against  the  policy 
and  measures  of  the  Government,  until,  at  length,  the 
authorities  of  Canada  were  induced  to  believe  that  a 
portion  of  the  States  were  anxious  to  secede  from  the 
Union.*  To  encourage  this  feeling  of  discontent,  Sir 
John  Craig,  Governor  of  Canada,  sent  the  notorious 
John  Henry  as  an  emissary  among  the  federalists  of  the 
New  England  States,  with  directions  to  ascertain  how 
far,  in  case  of  their  separation  from  the  Union,  they 
"  would  look  to  England  for  assistance  or  be  disposed 
to  enter  into  a  connection  with  Great  Britain." 

Mr.  Henry  reached  Burlington  on  the  12th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1809,  and  at  first  was  much  pleased  with  the  evi- 
dences of  discontent  among  the  people.  "  On  the 

the  two  companies  of  regulars  were  stationed  in  the  county  until 
after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Great  Britain ;  the  artillery  gener- 
ally occupying  a  position  on  the  lake  shore,  near  Rouse's  Point,  and 
the  infantry  at  Champlain,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Plattsburgh. 

*  This  opposition  was  the  most  violent  in  the  Eastern  States,  the 
inhabitants  of  which  were  more  commercial,  and  had  suffered  more 
from  the  effects  of  the  embargo,  than  those  of  any  other  section  of 
the  Union. 


158  HISTORY   OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

subject  of  the  embargo  laws,"  he  writes  Governor  Craig, 
"  there  seems  but  one  opinion ;  namely :  that  they  are 
unnecessary,  oppressive  and  unconstitutional.  It  must 
also  be  observed  that  the  execution  of  them  is  so  in- 
vidious as  to  attract  towards  the  officers  of  Govern- 
ment, the  enmity  of  the  people,  which  is  of  course 
transferred  to  the  Government  itself ;  so  that,  in  case 
the  State  of  Massachusetts  should  take  any  bold  step 
towards  resisting  the  execution  of  these  laws,  it  is  high- 
ly probable  that  it  may  calculate  upon  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  the  people  of  Vermont."  A  few  days  later 
Mr.  Henry  expresses  some  doubts  as  to  the  correctness 
of  his  first  opinions.  "  The  federal  party,"  he  again 
writes  Governor  Craig,  "  declare  that  in  the  event  of 
war,  the  State  of  Vermont  will  treat  separately  for  itself 
with  Great  Britain,  and  support  to  the  utmost  the  stipu- 
lations in  which  it  may  enter,  without  any  regard  to 
the  policy  of  the  general  Government.  The  democrats 
on  the  other  hand  assert  that,  in  such  a  case  as  that 
contemplated,  the  people  would  be  nearly  divided  into 
equal  numbers  ;  one  of  which  would  support  the  Gov- 
ernment, if  it  could  be  done  without  involving  the 
people  in  a  civil  war;  but  at  all  events  would  risk 
everything,  in  preference  to  a  coalition  with  Great 
Britain." 

Henry's  investigations  were  not  very  satisfactory, 
and  before  he  left  for  Boston,  he  evidently  became  con- 
vinced that  in  the  event  of  a  dispute  among  the  States, 
the  citizens  of  Vermont  could  not  be  relied  upon  to 
join  the  seceders,  or  to  unite  in  a  strong  opposition  to 
the  war.  He  had  at  first  been  led  astray  by  the  loud 
clamor  of  politicians,  and  by  the  complaints  of  those 
who  had  suffered  most  from  the  operation  of  the 
embargo.  These  laws  had  severely  injured  the  com- 
merce of  the  lake,  and  had  broken  up  the  direct  com- 
munication with  the  Canada  markets,  upon  which  the 
inhabitants  of  the  lake  counties  depended  for  a  sale  of 
their  products,  and  for  a  supply  of  foreign  commodities. 

The  country  was  filled  with  smugglers,  who  fre- 
quently came  in  collision  with  the  revenue  officers.  In 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  159 

some  of  these  encounters  blood  had  been  shed  and  lives 
lost.  The  first  serious  affray  occurred  on  the  Winooski 
River,  in  1808,  between  a  party  of  Government  officers 
and  a  smuggling  vessel  called  the  Black  Snake,  in 
which  two  of  the  Government  officers  were  killed. 
Attempts  were  frequently  made  to  seize  the  Collectors 
and  Revenue  officers,  stationed  on  both  sides  of  the 
lake.  These  attempts  always  failed,  but,  on  one  occa- 
sion, two  of  the  assailants  were  severely,  although  not 
mortally  wounded.  The  feeling  of  opposition  to  the 
embargo  was  strong  at  the  time  of  Henry's  visit,  in 
1809,  and  induced  him  to  attach  greater  importance  to 
the  representations  of  a  few  persons,  as  to  the  senti- 
ments of  the  inhabitants  of  Western  Vermont,  than 
was  warranted  by  the  real  inclinations  of  the  people 
themselves.  It  is  well  known  that  when  war  was 
declared,  the  Vermontese  were  not  only  ready  to  repel 
an  invasion  of  that  State,  but  that  many  of  them 
volunteered  to  cross  the  lake,  and  oppose  the  advance 
of  the  British  into  the  State  of  New  York 

The  difficulties  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britan  continued  to  increase,  in  number  and  impor- 
tance, until  the  year  1812.  On  the  1st  of  June  of  that 
year,  Mr.  Madison  sent  a  message  to  Congress,  in  which 
he  reviewed  the  various  grounds  of  complaint  against 
Great  Britain,  and  set  forth,  at  length,  the  unsatis- 
factory manner  in  which  that  power  had  received  and 
treated  the  frequent  remonstrances  made  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States.  This  message  was  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  who,  a  few  days 
afterwards,  made  a  report  in  which  they  fully  con- 
curred in  the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  President's 
message. 

In  this  report  the  Committee  declare  that  more  than 
seven  years  had  elapsed,  since  the  commencement  of  a 
system  of  hostile  aggressions,  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment, on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United  States. 
That  the  United  States  had  done  everything  ir.  their 
power  to  preserve  the  relations  of  friendship  \vith 
Great  Britain,  and  had  given  proof  of  this  disposition 


100  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

at  the  moment  when  they  were  made  the  victims  of  an 
opposite  policy.  The  committee  then  referred  to  the 
attack  made  by  Great  Britain  upon  the  commerce 
between  the  United  States  and  the  Colonies  of  France 
and  Spain.  A  commerce  which,  they  declared,  was 
just  in  itself,  sanctioned  by  the  example  of  Great  Britain 
in  regard  to  the  trade  with  her  own  colonies  ;  sanctioned 
by  a  solemn  act  between  the  two  Governments  in  the 
last  war,  and  by  the  practice  of  the  British  Government 
in  the  then  existing  European  War. 

They  refer,  at  length,  to  the  different  attacks  made 
by  great  Britain  upon  the  rights  and  sovereignty  of  the 
United  States  ;  the  interference  with  her  neutral  trade ; 
the  pretended  blockade  of  the  whole  coast  of  Europe, 
from  the  Elbe  to  Brest,  inclusive ;  the  order  of  Council 
of  January  1807,  by  which  neutral  powers  were  prohib- 
ited from  trading  from  one  port  to  another  of  France, 
or  of  her  allies,  or  to  any  country  with  which  Great 
Britain  might  not  freely  trade  ;  the  order  of  Council  of 
November  of  the  same  year  ;  the  claim  of  right  to  search 
vessels  sailing  under  the  American  flag ;  the  impress- 
ment of  American  citizens  into  the  British  naval  service, 
and  the  attempt  to  dismember  the  Union,  by  a  secret 
mission  to  foment  discontent  and  excite  insurrection 
against  the  constituted  authorities  and  laws  of  the 
nation. 

Having  clearly  and  plainly  stated  the  facts  upon  which 
these  charges  were  based,  and  reviewed  the  whole  course 
of  Great  Britain  against  the  United  States,  since  1804, 
the  Committee  recommended  an  immediate  appeal  to 
arms,  and  introduced  a  bill  declaring  war  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain.  This  bill  passed  the 
Senate  by  a  vote  of  nineteen  to  thirteen,  and  the  House 
of  Representatives  by  a  vote  of  seventy-nine  to  forty- 
nine,  and  was  promulgated  by  the  proclamation  of  Pres- 
ident Madison,  on  the  17th  day  of  June,  1812. 

Active  measures  were  immediately  taken  by  many  of 
the  States  to  second  the  action  of  the  general  govern- 
ment. The  State  of  New  York  approved  warmly  of 
the  course  of  the  administration,  and  prepared  to  pro- 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  161 

ecute  the  war  with  vigor.  Vermont  was  at  the  time 
under  the  control  of  the  democrats,  and  botli  the  Gov- 
vernor  and  Legislature  pledged  themselves  to  support 
the  country  in  the  approaching  contest.  A  law  was 
immediately  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the  latter 
State,  prohibiting  all  intercourse  with  Canada  without 
a  permit  from  the  Governor,  and  mejisures  were  taken 
for  calling  out  the  militia  whenever  their  services  might, 
be  required. 

The  effective  force  in  Canada,  at  the  time  of  the  dec- 
laration of  war,  was  about  ten  thousand  men.  These 
troops  were  principally  concentrated  around  Quebec, 
but  the  greater  part  were  soon  afterwards  removed  to 
Upper  Canada,  which  was  threatened  on  the  west  by 
an  army  under  General  Hull.  In  the  summer  of  1812, 
General  Bloomfield  was  ordered  to  the  Champlain 
frontier,  with  several  regiments.  By  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, he  had  about  eight  thousand  men,  including 
regulars,  volunteers  and  militia,  under  his  command. 
This  force  was  stationed  at  Plattsburgh,  with  small  ad- 
vance parties  thrown  forward  as  far  as  Chazy  and 
Champlain.  The  troops  remained  in  quarters  until  the 
16th  of  November,  when  they  advanced  north,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major  General  Dearborn, 
and,  on  the  18th,  encamped  about  half  a  mile  south  of 
the  Canada  line.  The  army  collected  at  this  point 
numbered  three  thousand  regulars  and  two  thousand 
militia. 

The  entire  British  force  on  the  northern  frontier  did 
not  exceed  three  thousand  men,  and  of  these  not  more 
than  one  thousand  were  within  striking  distance  of  the 
American  army.  When  Dearborn  had  concentrated 
his  troops  near  the  lines,  he  prepared  to  cross  into  Can- 
ada. Aa  he  approached  Odelltown,  Major  Salaberry, 
who  commanded  in  that  quarter,  sent  forward  two  com- 
panies of  voltigeurs  and  three  hundred  Indians  to  sup- 
port the  two  companies  of  embodied  militia,  who  formed 
the  British  outposts  on  the  Lacolle. — Major  Salaberry 
followed,  the  next  day,  with  the  remainder  of  the  vol- 
tigeurs and  four  companies  of  chasseurs. 


H1STOKV  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Before  'day-break  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  a  de- 
tachment of  Dearborn's  army  forded  the  Lacolle,  and 
surrounded  the  guard-house  which  was  occupied  by  the 
Canadian  militia  and  a  few  Indians,  who  rushed  out, 
broke  through  the  American  lines,  and  escaped  unhurt. 
In  the  mean  time  a  second  party  of  the  Americans  had 
advanced,  and  commenced  a  sharp  fire  upon  those  in 
possession  of  the  ground  mistaking  them  for  the  British 
picket.  This  fire  continued  for  nearly  half  an  hour, 
when  being  undeceived,  the  two  parties  united  and 
hastily  retreated,  leaving  behind  them  five  killed  and 
as  many  wounded.*  The  troops  immediately  after- 
wards returned  to  Champlain.  The  designs  of  the 
American  General  were  so  completely  obscured,  that 
no  one  discovered  the  particular  advantages  intended 
to  be  gained  by  this  singular  and  inefficient  movement. 
It  was  a  prelude  to  many  similar  operations  on  the 
Champlain  frontier,  during  the  war. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  the  army  returned  to 
Plattsburgh,  where  the  6th,  15th,  and  16th  regiments 
went  into  winter  quarters.  The  militia  were  dis- 
banded; the  9th,  llth,  21st  and  25th  regiments  were 
sent  to  Burlington,  and  the  light  artillery  and  dra- 
goons returned  to  Greenbush.  Brigadier-general 
Chandler  commanded  the  troops  left  at  Burlington,  and 
Colonel  Pike  those  stationed  at  Plattsburgh.  f 

On  the  23d  of  October,  a  gallant  affair  took  place  at 
St.  Regis,  where  Major  Young  surprised  a  party  of 


•Christie's  History  of  the  War  in  Canada.  Genearal  Aarmstrong 
then  U.  S.  Secretary  of  War,  says  this  account  does  not  differ  materially 
from  those  given  by  the  American  officers. 

t  Zebulon  Montgomery  Pike  was  born  in  Laml>erton,  N.  J.,  January 
5,  1789.  He  joined  the  army  when  young,  and  soon  rose  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant.  In  August,  1805,  he  left  St.  Louis  at  the  head  of  twenty 
men  to  explore  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and,  during 
his  explorations,  discovered  Pike's  Peak,  the  summit  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  On  his  return  he  was  made  successively  captain,  major  ; 
and  in  1810,  colonel  of  infantry.  In  1813  he  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  and  placed  in  command  of  the  land  forces  in  the  expedition 
against  York.  He  arrived  at  York  (then  the  capital  of  Upper  Canada) 
on  the  27th  April,  1813,  and,  after  landing  and  carrying  the  battery, 
was  mortally  wounded  from  the  British  magazine. 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE   CHAM  PLAIN.  1(33 

British  and  took  forty  prisoners.  But  the  campaign  of 
1812  did  not  add  to  the  lustre  of  the  American  Arms 
On  the  Champlain  frontier,  nothing  was  achieved  be- 
yond the  little  affair  at  St.  Regis.  The  operations  on 
the  Ontario  frontier  were  confined  to  a  few  skirmishes, 
the  defence  of  Fort  Niagara,  and  an  unsuccessful  and 
most  disastrous  assault  upon  Queenstown ;  while  the 
incompetent  and  timid  Hull  surrendered  Detroit  and 
the  North  western  Army,  without  a  battle,  or  any 
effort  to  maintain  the  honor  of  the  country. 

In  the  course  of  the  winter  preparations  were  made 
for  the  invasion  of  Upper  Canada.  The  two  brigades 
stationed  on  Lake  Champlain,  moved  for  the  Ontario 
frontier  in  February,  leaving  a  small  detachment  at 
Burlington  to  protect  the  magazines  and  provisions 
collected  there.  The  west  side  of  the  lake  was  left 
wholly  unprotected,  and  remained  so  until  .the  month 
of  September  following. 

During  the  year  1811  a  very  active  trade  had  been 
carried  on  between  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
The  value  of  exports  for  that  year  from  the  District  of 
Champlain,  which  included  the  New  York  side  of  the 
lake  only,  exceeded  half  a  million  of  dollars,  of  which 
four  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  of  property 
of  American  growth  and  manufacture.  Among  the 
articles  exported  were  1,513  barrels  of  beef,  2,678  bar- 
rels of  pork,  70,269  pounds  of  butter,  53,049  pounds  of 
cheese  and  more  than  2,000  head  of  cattle.  The  value 
of  masts,  spars,  timber  and  sawed  lumber  exported  ex- 
ceeded two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  number 
of  clearances  from  the  district  between  the  10th  of 
April  and  the  10th  of  December  was  one  hundred  and 
ninety.  Of  these,  forty-two  were  rafts  and  the  remain- 
der sail  vessels,  bateaux  and  row-boats.  A  steamboat, 
called  the  Vermont,  made  one  trip  each  week  to  St. 
Johns.* 

*  The  Vermont  was  the  first  steamboat  on  Lake  Champlain.  She 
was  built  at  Burlington,  by  Winans  and  Lough,  in  1808,  commenced 
running  in  1809  and  continued  in  service  about  six  years.  She  was 
sunk  at  Isle  aux  Noix  in  October,  1815.  The  following  vessels  were 


16  1  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  C'HAMPLAIN. 

Hie  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada  broke  up  the  trade  with  Canada  and 
again  put  in  motion  a  numerous  band  of  old  and  experi- 
enced smugglers,  who  resided  along  the  frontier  from 
Lake  Memphremagog  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  collec- 
tors used  every  precaution  to  put  a  stop  to  the  illegal 
practices  of  these  people,  but  on  more  than  on  one  occa- 
sion the  ingenuity  of  the  smuggler  was  more  than  a 
match  for  the  vigilance  of  the  officers.  Small  row-boats 
would  elude  the  revenue  cutters  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  and  pack-horses,  loaded  with  rich  and  valuable 
goods,  would  frequently  escape  th rough  the  thick  woods 
which  bounded  the  settlement  on  both  sides  of  the  lake. 
The  United  States  troops  stationed  on  or  near  the  fron- 
tier occasionally  aided  the  custom-house  officers  in  the 
discharge  of  their  arduous  duties. 

Prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  whole 
naval  force  on  Lake  Champlain  consisted  of  two  gun- 
boats, which  lay  at  Basin  Harbor,  on  the  Vermont  side 
of  the  lake.  In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1812,  two 
small  sloops  were  fitted  up  and  armed,  to  which  were 
joined  four  scows,  carrying  one  long  eighteen  pounder 
each.  These  vessels  constituted  the  whole  naval  force 
of  the  Americans.  The  British,  at  that  time,  had  no 
vessels  on  the  lake,  nor  any  in  the  Richelieu  larger  than 
gun -boats. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1812,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Macdon- 
ough*  was  ordered  north  to  take  charge  of  the  naval 

cleared  at  the  Champlain  custom  house  in  1811:  Schooner  Liberty, 
Capt.  T.  Babcock  ;  Sloops  Eagle,  S.  Boardman  ;  Euretta,  John  Boyn- 
ton  ;  Jupiter,  Justin  Smith  ;  Hunter,  N.  Hinckley  ;  Independence,  Z. 
Manning  ;  Juno,  A.  Ferris  ;  Champlain,  E.  Hurlburt  ;  Essex,  A. 
Rock  ;  Rising  Sun,  Elijah  Boynton  ;  Mars,  T.  Clark  ;  Enterprise,  E. 
Bellamy  ;  Lady  Washington,  R.  Johes  ;  and  Richard,  Gideon  King. 

*  Thomas  Macdonough  was  lx>rn  in  Newcastle,  County  Delaware, 
December  23d,  1783.  He  entered  the  navy  as  a  midshipman  in  1800, 
and  served  in  the  Mediterranean  under  Brainbridge  and  Decatur.  In 
1807  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  in  1813  to  that  of 
master  commandant,  and  was  placed  in  command  of  the  naval  forces  on 
Lake  Champlain.  For  his  services  on  that  lake  he  was  made  captain. 
His  last  command  was  that  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron,  where  he 
was  taken  sick  and  died  November  16,  1825,  at  sea,  on  board  a  vessel 
sent  by  Government  to  bring  him  home. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  165 

operations  on  the  lake,  which  until  then  had  been  con- 
fided to  Lieutenant  Sidney  Smith.* 

Macdonough  brought  out  his  vessels  in  the  spring  of 
1813,  as  soon  as  the  lake  was  free  from  ice.  The  Ameri- 
can flotilla  at  this  time  consisted  of  the  sloop  President, 
fitted  up  during  the  winter,  which  was  commanded  by 
Macdonough  in  person;  the  sloop  Growler,  Lieutenant 
Smith,  and  the  sloop  Eagle,  Mr.  Loomis.  About  the 
first  of  June,  Macdonough  received  information  of  an 
attack,  by  several  British  gun-boats,  upon  some  small 
craft  at  the  lower  end  of  the  lake.  In  consequence  of 
this  intelligence,  he  ordered  Lieutenant  Smith  to  move 
towards  Rouse's  Point,  with  the  Growler  and  Eagle,  in 
order,  to  attack  the  gun-boats,  should  they  again  make 
their  appearance.  Lieutenant  Smith  left  Plattsburgh 
harbor,  with  his  vessels,  on  the  morning  of  the  2nd  of 
June,  and  about  dark  cast  anchor  within  a  mile  of  the 
lines.  The  next  morning,  about  day-break,  he  got  un- 
der way,  and  proceeded  down  the  Richelieu  as  far  as 
Ash  Island,  (Isle  aux  Tetes)  where  he  discovered  and 
gave  chase  to  three  British  gun-boats.  The  wind  was 
blowing  fresh  from  the  south,  at  the  time,  and  soon 
brought  the  sloops,  the  Growler  leading,  within  sight  of 
the  works  at  Isle  Aux  Noix.  The  sloops  now  tacked 
and  began  to  beat  back  towards  the  open  lake,  having 
the  wind  against  them,  with  a  slight  adverse  current  in 
the  river. 

As  soon  as  the  British  were  aware  of  the  advantages 
these  circumstances  gave  them,  three  of  their  row- 
galleys  came  out  from  under  the  works  at  Isle  Aux 
Noix,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire  upon  the  sloops.  As  the 
galleys  carried  long  twenty-fours,  while  the  largest 

*  Mr.  Smith  was  5th  lieutenant  on  board  the  Chesapeake  at  the  time 
of  the  Leopard's  attack  upon  that  vessel,  in  June,  1807,  and,  on  the  re- 
turn of  the  Chesapeake  to  Hampton  Roads,  joined  the  other  officers  of 
that  frigate  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  preferring  charges 
against  Commodore  Uaron,  and  requesting  a  court  of  inquiry  upon  his 
conduct.  He  afterwards  served  on  board  the  U.  S.  ship  Wasp,  and,  in 
March,  1810,  was  ordered  to  Lake  Champlain,  where  he  remained  in 
command,  until  the  arrival  of  Lieutenant  Macdonough  in  the  fall  of 
1812.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Bailey,  of  Plattsburgh,  and 
died  a  commander  in  1827. 


166  HISTOHV   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAtN. 

guns  on  the  sloops  were  eighteens,  the  former  were  able 
to  select  their  own  distance,  nor  could  the  latter  come 
to  close  quarters  without  running  within  range  of  the 
fire  of  the  batteries  on  the  island.  To  render  the  situa- 
tion of  the  sloops  still  more  critical,  the  British  now 
lined  the  woods  on  each  side  of  the  river,  and  opened 
upon  them  with  musketry.  This  fire  was  returned  with 
constant  discharges  of  grape  and  canister,  and,  in  this 
manner,  the  contest  was  continued  for  several  hours, 
with  great  gallantry  on  both  sides.  About  four  hours 
after  the  commencement  of  the  action,  a  shot  from  one 
of  the  galleys  struck  the  Eagle  under  her  starboard 
quarter  and  passed  out  on  the  other  side,  ripping  off  a 
plank  under  water.  The  sloop  went  down  almost  im- 
mediately, but  fortunately  in  shoal  water,  and  her 
crew  were  taken  off  by  boats  sent  from  the  shore  ;  soon 
after  this  accident,  the  Growler  had  her  fore  stay  and 
main  boom  shot  away,  when  she  became  unmanageable 
and  ran  ashore. 

In  this  engagement  the  Growler  had  one  killed  and 
eight  wounded,  and  the  Eagle  eleven  wounded,  includ- 
ing the  pilot,  Mr.  Graves.  The  whole  number  of  men 
on  board  both  vessels  when  they  went  into  action  was 
one  hundred  and  twelve,  including  Captain  Herrick 
and  thirty-three  volunteers  from  his  company.  The 
officers  and  men  were  taken  prisoners  and  sent  to 
Canada.*  The  two  sloops,  having  been  refitted,  were 
transferred  to  the  British  service,  their  names  being 
changed  to  the  Finch  and  Chubb,  and  were  subse- 
quently re-captured  by  Macdonough  in  September, 
1814.  The  loss  to  the  British  in  this  engagement  was 
never  correctly  ascertained.  It  must  have  been  very 
severe,  however,  as  their  forces  advanced  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  where,  destitute  of  shelter,  they  received 
broadside  after  broadside  of  canister  and  grape.  A 
sergeant  of  the  llth  Regiment,  who  had  volunteered  on 

*  A  court  of  inquiry  was  held  at  Sackett's  Harbor  in  the  summer  of 
1815  on  the  loss  of  the  Eagle  and  Growler,  when  Lieut.  Smith  was 
acquitted  and  his  conduct  declared  to  have  been  "gallant,  correct 
and  meritorious." 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  167 

board  one  of  the  sloops,  and  who  was  paroled  on  ac- 
count of  his  wounds,  reported  that  he  counted  thirty  of 
the  enemy  dead  upon  one  small  spot.* 

The  capture  of  the  Growler  and  Eagle  gave  to  the 
British  the  superiority  on  the  lake.  In  July  Macdon- 
ough  increased  his  naval  force,  which  by  the  loss  of  the 
Growler  and  Eagle  had  been  reduced  to  one  sloop,  by 
the  addition  of  six  gun-boats,  and,  by  the  20th  of 
August,  had  fitted  out  and  armed  three  small  sloops, 
mounting  together  28  guns.  This  increased  the  Amer- 
ican force  on  the  lake  to  about  fifty  guns.  In  the  offi- 
cial returns  in  the  Admiralty  office,  it  is  stated  that  the 
British  had  at  Isle  Aux  Noix  or  St.  John,  on  the  24th 
of  July,  two  sloops  of  eleven  guns  and  forty  men  each, 
and  three  gun-boats  of  twenty  men  each.  Other  ac- 
counts state  their  naval  force,  in  August,  at  three 
sloops,  four  gun-boats  and  three  row-galleys,  mounting 
in  all  about  forty-two  guns.  The  efficacy  of  this  arm 
was,  however,  less  than  the  number  of  guns  would  seem 
to  indicate,  for  the  sloops,  on  both  sides,  were  originally 
built  and  used  in  the  transport  service,  and  were  not 
adapted  to  war  purposes. 

Before  the  American  flotilla  had  been  increased  by 
the  addition  of  the  three  sloops,  a  party  of  British, 
under  Colonel  Murray,  made  a  descent  upon  Platts- 
burgh,  and  destroyed  or  took  away  a  large  amount  of 
public  and  private  property.  Although  this  was  in 
fact  nothing  but  a  predatory  incursion,  it  was  treated 
by  the  English  at  the  time  as  a  most  glorious  achieve- 
ment, and  has  been  so  considered  by  their  historians  up 
to  the  present  day.  Mr.  Alison,  in  his  history  of  Europe, 
a  work  replete  with  errors  in  relation  to  the  military 
operations  on  this  frontier  during  the  war  of  1812, 
refers  to  the  expedition,  and  says  that  "  the  English 
flotilla,  with  nine  hundred  men  on  board,  stretched 
across  the  lake,  took  Plattsburgh,  which  was  evacuated 
by  twelve  hundred  Americans,  without  firing  a  shot, 

*  The  current  belief,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  action,  was  that  the 
British  loss  exceeded  two  hundred,  but  this  was  probably  an  exag- 
geration. 


168  HISTOKX   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

burned  part  of  the  naval  stores  and  brought  away  the 
rest,  and  also  destroyed  the  American  naval  establish- 
ments at  Champlain  and  Burlington. 

A  greater  number  of  errors  could  not  well  be  col- 
lected in  so  few  words.  Alison  lias  overrated  the  num- 
ber of  Americans  at  Pluttsburgh,  diminished  the  actual 
strength  of  the  British,  and  misstated  every  circum- 
stance connected  with  the  transaction.  The  force  under 
Colonel  Murray  was  embarked  on  two  war  sloops,  three 
gun-boats,  and  forty-seven  long-boats,  and  numbered 
over  fourteen  hundred  men,  including  infantry,  sailors 
and  marines.  With  this  force  Murray  crossed  the  lines 
on  the  30th  of  July,  passed  Champlain,  where  the 
Americans  had  not  then,  nor  ever  had,  a  naval  estab- 
lishment, and  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the  31st, 
arrived  at  Plattsburgh,  where  he  landed,  without  oppo- 
sition, and  began  a  work  of  destruction  which  con- 
tinued until  ten  o'clock  of  the  next  day,  when  he  re- 
embarked  and  stood  out  of  the  Bay.  At  the  time  the 
British  landed,  there  were  no  regular  troops  on  the 
west  side  of  the  lake.  Major-General  Hampton,  it  is 
true,  was  at  Burlington  on  the  opposite  side,  twenty 
miles  distant,  with  between  three  and  four  thousand 
men  under  his  command,  but,  from  some  unaccountable 
cause,  he  made  no  attempt  to  cross  the  lake  or  to  pro- 
tect the  village  of  Plattsburgh,  although  he  had  twenty- 
four  hour's  notice  of  the  intended  attack.*  While  the 
British  were  at  Plattsburgh,  about  three  hundred  militii 
were  hastily  collected,  but  they  did  not  approach  the 
village  until  after  the  enemy  had  retired. 

When  Colonel  Murray  first  entered  the  village,  he 
assured  the  civil  authorities  that  private  property  should 

*  "  I  could  not  persuade  myself  that  the  American  force  stationed  at 
Burlington  of  4000 effective  men,  within  twenty  miles  of  this  place,  could 
be  suffered  to  remain  idle  spectators  of  the  destruction  of  the  public 
property  and  of  this  village  by  comparatively  a  very  small  British  force. 
Messengers  were  repeatedly  sent  to  General  Hampton  with  a  request 
that  one  regiment  might  be  sent  here,  but  to  no  effect.  It  is  a  fact  that 
from  the  Canada  line  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  Champlain,  on  the  west 
side,  there  is  not  a  military  post  nor  a  soldier  to  be  seen." — Peter  Sailly 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  August  4,  1813. 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  169 

be  respected,  and  that  citizens,  not  in  arms,  should  re- 
main unmolested.  These  promises  were,  however, 
most  shamefully  violated,  for  the  British,  not  satisfied 
with  destroying  the  block-house,  arsenal,  armory  and 
hospital  in  the  village,  and  the  military  cantonment  near 
Fredenburgh  Falls,  two  miles  above,  wantonly  burned 
three  private  store-houses,  took  possession  of  about  two 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  hardware,  belonging  to  mer- 
chants of  the  city  of  Boston,  and  plundered  several 
private  dwellings,  destroying  furniture  and  such  articles 
as  they  could  not  use  or  carry  away.  The  value  of  the 
private  property  plundered  exceeded  eight  thousand 
dollars.  Inventories  of  this  property  were  prepared 
and  published  at  the  time,  and  include  long  lists  of  fur- 
niture, books,  clothing,  cooking  utensils,  groceries  and 
dry  goods.  Soldiers  would  break  into  private  dwell- 
ings and  bear  off  back  loads  of  property  to  the  boats,  in 
the  presence  of  British  officers,  who,  when  remonstrated 
with  by  the  plundered  citizens,  replied  that  they  could 
not  prevent  it,  as  the  men  did  not  belong  to  their  com- 
pany.* The  value  of  the  public  property  destroyed 
was  estimated  at  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

Colonel  Murray,  having  accomplished  the  work  of 
destruction,  retired  in  great  haste,  leaving  behind  him 
a  picket-guard  of  twenty-one  men,  who  were  made 
prisoners  and  sent  to  Burlington.  The  long-boats  and 
two  of  the  gun-boats  then  proceeded  to  S wanton,  Vt., 
where  the  men  burned  some  old  barracks,  and  plun- 
dered several  citizens  of  the  place.  On  their  way,  they 
landed  at  Cumberland  Head  and  Point  Au  Roche,  and 
pillaged  the  houses  and  farms  of  Henry  W.  Brand, 
Judge  Treadwell  and  Jeremiah  Stowe.  They  also 
burned  a  store  at  Chazy  Landing  belonging  to  Judge 
Saxe.  The  two  sloops  and  the  other  gun-boat,  after 
leaving  Plattsburgh,  stood  for  the  south  and  sailed  ten 

*  It  appears  by  the  inventories  of  plundered  property,  published  at 
the  time,  that  Judge  De  Lord  lost  $1079.18  ;  Peter  Sailly,  Esq..  $887.77  '» 
besides  two  store-houses  burned  and  valued  at  $900  ;  Judge  Palmer, 
$386.50  ;  Doctor  Miller,  $1200  ;  Bostwick  Buck,  $150  ;  Jacob  Ferris, 
5700  ;  several  smaller  amounts  were  lost  by  other  citizens.  A  store- 
house belonging  to  Major  Platt  was  also  burned  at  the  time. 


170  HISTOBY  OP  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

or  twelve  miles  above  Burlington,  when  they  returned 
towards  Canada.  As  the  vessels  passed  Burlington 
they  fired  a  few  shots  at  the  place,  but  bore  away  as 
soon  as  the  batteries  on  shore  began  to  play  upon  them. 
While  on  the  lake,  the  British  took  or  destroyed  eight 
or  ten  long-boats  engaged  in  the  transportation  busi- 
ness, and  captured  a  Durham  boat  loaded  with  flour. 

While  Colonel  Murray  was  at  Plattsburgh  he  dropped 
a  letter  from  his  hat,  which  was  afterwards  picked  up, 
and  found  to  contain  information  as  to  the  best  mode 
of  attack  on  Plattsburgh,  together  with  a  map  of  the 
encampment  and  military  works  at  Burlington.  A  few 
days  afterwards  the  person  who  wrote  the  letter,  was 
arrested  on  a  charge  of  high  treason,  and  sent  to  Albany 
for  safe-keeping. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLATN.  171 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Plan  of  the  Campaign  of  1813 — Hampton  at  Lacolle  and  Chateaugay — 
Colonel  Clark  at  Missisquoi  Bay — Skirmishes — Operations  on  the 
Lake — Dispute  between  the  Vermont  volunteers  and  Governor  Chit- 
tenden — Failure  of  the  Campaign  of  1813 — Battle  of  Lacolle  Mill — 
British  attack  the  works  near  Otter  Creek — -Operations  during  the 
summer — Death  of  .Colonel  Forsyth — Izard  ordered  to  the  West — 
Condition  of  Affairs  after  his  departure. 

IN  July  1813,  Major-general  James  Wilkinson  as- 
sumed the  command  of  the  Northern  Department. 
About  the  same  time,  the  American  Secretary  of  War, 
Mr.  Armstrong,  repaired  to  Sackett's  Harbor  to  super- 
vise the  military  operations  on  the  Ontario  frontier. 
The  plan  of  the  Secretary  contemplated  "  a  descent 
upon  Kingston,  and  a  subsequent  movement  down  the 
St.  Lawrence."  A  large  force  was  also  collected  at 
Burlington,  on  Lake  Champlain,  which  was  placed 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Major-general  Hamp- 
ton. 

About  the  1st  of  September,  Hampton  was  directed 
to  move  towards  the  British  posts  on  the  Richelieu,  in 
order  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  Western 
Army,  and  to  co-operate,  if  necessary,  with  Wilkinson 
in  an  attack  upon  Montreal.  The  American  troops, 
numbering  about  four  thousand  men,  were  immediately 
concentrated  at  Cumberland  Head,  where  they  were 
joined  by  a  body  of  New  York  Militia,  who  had  been 
called  into  service  by  Governor  Tompkins.  On  the 
19th,  the  infantry  and  light  troops  moved  from  Cum- 
berland Head  in  boats,  flanked  on  the  right  by  Mac- 
donough's  flotilla,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night  reached 
Chazy  Landing.  The  next  morning  they  entered  the 
Big  Chazy  river,  and  disembarked  at  the  foot  of  the 
rapids,  near  the  village  of  Champlain,  where  they  were 


172  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLALN. 

joined  by  a  squadron  of  horse  and  two  companies  of 
artillery.  The  same  day  the  army  moved  north  as  far 
as  Odelltown,  in  Canada.  Hampton  remained  one  day 
in  Canada,  when  learning  that  the  springs  and  streams, 
in  the  direction  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  had  been  dried  up 
by  an  unusual  drought,  he  determined  to  change  his 
route  and  to  approach  Montreal  by  the  way  of  the 
Chateaugay. 

On  the  21st,  the  army  returned  to  Champlain,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  24th,  reached  Chateaugay  Four 
Corners,  where  they  remained  inactive  for  twenty-six 
days.  On  the  16th  of  October,  Mr.  Armstrong  was 
at  Sackett's  Harbor,  debating  whether  lie  should  attack 
Kingston,  or  make  an  immediate  descent  upon  Mont- 
real. Hampton  was  ordered  to  advance  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Chateaugay  River,  or  to  some  other  convenient 
point  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  from  which  an  easy  and 
direct  communication  could  be  opened  betwen  the  two 
armies.  In  pursuance  of  this  order,  he  entered  Canada 
on  the  21st,  and  the  next  day  encamped  on  the  Chateau- 
gay,  at  a  point  about  twenty  miles  below  the  Four 
Corners. — There  he  remained  until  the  20th,  when  he 
planned  an  expedition  against  a  small  body  of  British 
troops,  who  were  stationed  about  six  miles  below.  The 
expedition  failed,  and  Hampton  returned  to  the  Four 
Corners,  with  a  loss  of  thirty-five  men,  in  killed  and 
wounded.  A  few  days  afterwards  be  broke  up  his 
camp  and  returned  to  Plattsburgh,  where  the  army 
was  ordered  into  winter  quarters. 

While  the  army  lay  at  Chateaugay,  Colonel  Isaac 
Clark,*  who  commanded  a  detachment  of  troops  sta- 
tioned at  Champlain  Village,  was  ordered  to  "  com- 
mence a  petty  war  near  Lake  Champlain."  "  What 
I  am  aiming  at,"  writes  Hampton,  "  is  tranquillity  on 
the  road,  by  kicking  up  a  dust  on  the  lines. "f  A  bet- 
ter officer  than  Clark,  to  accomplish  this  object,  could 

*  Colonel  Clark  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  Captain  Ebenezer  Allen's  company,  and  took  part  in  the  sur 
prise  of  Mount  Defiance,  in  September,  1777. 

t  Letter  to  Secretary  of  War,  October  4th,  1813. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  OHAMPLAIN.  173 

not  have  been  selected.  He  had  served  with  Herrick's 
Rangers  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  well  skilled  in 
border  warfare. 

On  the  evening  of  the  llth  of  October,  Clark  crossed 
the  lake  with  one  hundred  and  ten  men,  a  part  of  whom 
belonged  to  the  Rifle  corps,  and  early  the  next  morn- 
ing reached  the  village  of  Missisco  Bay,  where  a  small 
party  of  British  were  stationed,  under  command  of 
Major  Powell.  Clark  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
Rifles,  and  advanced  at  double  quick  time  until  he  met 
the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  who  had  been  hastily 
drawn  up  near  the  guard-house.  Directing  his  men  to 
halt,  he  approached  the  British  and  ordered  them  to 
lay  down  their  arms.  Major  Powell  advanced  and 
attempted  to  speak,  but  Clark  sternly  ordered  him  to 
remain  silent,  and  march  "to  the  rear  of  the  American 
line."  The  boldness  of  the  order,  and  the  confident 
tone  in  which  it  was  given,  induced  the  Major  to 
believe  that  the  Rifles  were  supported  by  a  large  force, 
and  he  instantly  obeyed.  Clark  ordered  his  men  to 
advance  against  the  main  body,  who,  under  command 
of  their  captain,  was  preparing  to  charge.  A  volley 
from  the  Riflemen  struck  down  the  captain  and  several 
men,  when  the  rest  threw  down  their  arms  and  sur- 
rendered themselves  as  prisoners  of  war.  Captain 
Finch  was  now  sent  forward  to  watch  a  force  of  two 
hundred  British,  who  were  advancing  under  Colonel 
Lock.  Finch  proceeded  with  such  promptness  and 
secrecy,  as  to  surprise  an  advance  guard  of  cavalry, 
except  one  man  who  escaped  and  gave  information  of 
the  approach  of  the  Americans,  when  Colonel  Lock 
immediately  retreated  with  the  rest  of  his  command. 
The  loss  to  the  British,  in  these  attacks,  was  nine  killed 
and  fourteen  wounded.  One  hundred  and  one  pris- 
oners were  taken  by  Clark  and  sent  to  Burlington. 

During  the  autumn  of  this  year,  a  slight  skirmishing 
war  was  carried  on  between  the  American  and  British 
picket-guards,  which  kept  the  frontier  in  a  state  of 
excitement  and  alarm,  without,  however,  doing  much 
injury  to  either  party.  Upon  one  occasion,  about  the 


174  HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

1st  of  October,  a  small  party  of  New  York  militia 
crossed  the  lines  and  attacked  a  picket-guard  stationed 
at  Odletown,  within  the  district  under  command  of 
Major  Perreault  of  the  Canadian  detached  Volunteers. 
The  audacity  of  this  act  excited  the  ire  of  the  Cana- 
dian officer,  who,  in  retaliation,  discharged  a  gasconade 
at  the  whole  town  of  Champlain. 

"  Citizens  of  Champlain !  "  exclaimed  the  indignant 
Major,  "I  am  happy  that  humanity  should  still  have  so 
much  power  over  me  as  to  inform  you  that,  should  any 
of  the  militia  of  Champlain  be  found  hovering  this  side 
of  the  line,  I  will  let  loose  upon  your  village  and  inhab- 
itants the  Canadian  and  Indian  force  under  my  com- 
mand. You  are  probably  aware  that  it  has  been  with  the 
greatest  difficulty  I  have  till  now  withheld  them.  But 
your  cowardly  attack  at  midnight,  of  a  small  picket  of 
our's,  has  torn  asunder  the  veil  which  hid  you  from 
them — so  beware  !  "  This  message  was  enclosed  in  a 
note  to  Judge  Moore,  with  a  request  that  he  would  ac- 
quaint the  people  with  "the  tenor  of  the  humane  adver- 
tisement." Judge  Moore  performed  his  duty,  but  the 
militia  were  obdurate. 

As  soon  as  the  army  had  retired  into  winter  quarters, 
Hampton  repaired  to  Washington,  leaving  General  Izard 
in  command  at  Plattsburgh,  and  General  Parker  at 
Burlington.  Izard  was  soon  afterwards  ordered  to  join 
Wilkinson,  who,  on  Hampton's  return  to  Plattsburgh 
had  gone  into  winter  quarters  at  French  Mills.  On  the 
departure  of  Izard's  brigade,  the  frontier  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  lake  was  again  left  unprotected.  About 
the  middle  of  December,  a  strong  detachment  of  British 
troops,  under  command  of  Captain  Barker  of  the  fron- 
tier light  infantry,  crossed  the  lines  into  Vermont  and 
destroyed  some  public  store-houses  and  barracks  which 
had  been  erected  at  Derby.  This  attack,  and  the  threat- 
ening movements  of  the  British  forces  stationed  along 
the  Richelieu,  induced  the  magistrates  of  Plattsburgh 
to  address  a  letter  to  General  Wilkinson,  who  was  then 
at  French  Mills,  in  which  they  represented  the  exposed 
condition  of  the  public  property  and  their  apprehension 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  175 

that  another  invasion  might  soon  be  expected,  unless 
,1  strong  force  was  stationed  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake. 
As  soon  as  Wilkinson  received  this  letter,  he  ordered 
a  company  of  dragoons  to  Plattsburgh  from  Burlington 
and  a  detachment  of  infantry  from  Chateaugay  Four 
Corners. — The  infantry  reached  Plattsburgh  on  the  8th 
of  January,  having  made  a  forced  march  of  forty  miles 
that  day.  Other  detachments  of  troops  soon  afterwards 
arrived,  and  on  the  10th  Wilkinson  repaired  to  Platts- 
burgh in  person.  The  camp  at  French  Mills  was  bro- 
ken up,  and  all  the  magazines  and  provisions  forwarded 
to  Lake  Champlain. 

The  operations  on  the  lake,  during  the  autumn  of 
1813,  were  of  little  importance.  The  British  flotilla 
remained  in  the  Richelieu,  while  the  American  vessels 
rode  quietly  at  anchor  on  the  lake.  About  the  1st  of 
December  Macdonough  moved  to  King's  Bay  and  an- 
chored under  Point  Au  Fer.  A  few  days  after  his 
arrival  at  that  place,  Captain  Pring  entered  the  lake 
with  six  armed  galleys,  landed  at  Rouse's  Point,  and 
burned  a  small  shed  there,  which  had  been  used  as  a 
public  store-house.  As  soon  as  Macdonough  received 
information  of  the  approach  of  the  British  galleys,  he 
weighed  anchor,  and  it  being  calm  at  the  time,  at- 
tempted to  work  out  of  the  bay  with  sweeps.  At  the 
same  time  he  sent  Lieutenant  Cassin  forward,  with  four 
row-galleys,  with  orders  to  bring  the  enemy  into  ac- 
tion, and  thus  detain  them  until  the  sloops  could  get 
up.  The  British,  however,  refused  to  engage,  and, 
Lieutenant  Cassin  returned  after  an  unavailing  pursuit 
of  three  miles.* 

Sir  George  Provost  gives  a  different  and  erroneous 
account  of  this  trifling  affair.  In  a  letter  to  Earl 
Bathurst,  under  date  of  December  12th,  he  says  "A 
division  of  gun-boats  with  a  detachment  of  troops,  which 
I  had  ordered,  on  the  1st  of  the  month,  to  advance  into 
Lake  Champlain,  for  the  purpose  of  molesting  General 
Hampton's  division,  succeeded  in  burning  an  extensive 
building  lately  erected  at  Plattsburgh,  as  adepotmaga- 

*  Macdonough  to  Secretary  of  Navy,  December  5th,  1813. 


176  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

zine  ;  some  bateaux  together  with  the  ammunition,  pro- 
visions and  stores  found  in  it,  were  either  brought 
away  or  destroyed.  The  severity  of  the  weather  obliged 
Captain  Pring,  of  the  royal  navy,  under  whose  command 
I  had  placed  the  expedition,  to  return  to  Isle  Aux  Noix 
on  the  5th.  "  Sir  George  was  evidently  misinformed  as 
to  the  facts,  by  the  officer  in  command  of  the  expedition 

The  "  extensive  building  lately  erected  at  Plattsburgh 
as  a  depot  magazine,"  was  a  small  shed  near  the  lake 
shore  at  Champlain  landing,  which  had  formerly  been,  in 
public  use,  and  the  smoke  from  which  gave  the  first  in- 
formation to  Macdonough  of  the  enemy's  approach.  A 
few  days  after  this  affair,  the  ice  blocked  up  the  narrow 
channel  below  Rouse's  Point,  when  Macdonough  with- 
drew his  vessels,  and  laid  them  up  for  the  winter  in 
Otter  Creek.. 

In  November  of  this  year,  a  dispute  arose  between 
Governor  Chittenden  of  Vermont  and  some  of  the  citi- 
zens of  that  State,  involving  the  right  of  the  militia, 
in  certain  cases,  to  pass  without  the  territorial  limits 
of  their  own  State. — The  Governor,  in  his  annual 
message,  had  taken  strong  grounds  against  the  war, 
which  he  considered  "  doubtful  as  to  its  necessity,  ex- 
pediency or  justice."  He  also  declared  that  the  militia 
\vere  exclusively  assigned  for  the  service  and  protection 
of  the  respective  States,  except  in  the  cases  provided 
for  by  the  National  Constitution. — That  it  was  never 
intended  that  they  should,  "  by  any  kind  of  magic,"  be 
at  once  transformed  into  a  regular  army  for  the  purpose 
of  foreign  conquest,  and  he  regretted  that  a  construction 
should  have  been  given  to  the  Constitution, "  so 
peculiarly  burdensome  and  oppressive  to  that  important 
class  of  our  fellow  citizens." 

In  opposition  to  these  friendly  suggestions,  a  portion 
of  the  militia,  under  Lieutenant-colonel  Luther  Dixon, 
crossed  the  lake  and  placed  themselves  under  the  orders 
of  General  Hampton.  This  movement  called  forth  a 
proclamation  from  the  Governor,  in  which  he  ordered 
the  militia  to  return,  and  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
to  act  under  the  orders  of  Brigadier-General  Davis, 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  177 

who  had  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  their  brigade. 
"  The  military  strength  and  resources  of  the  State," 
says  Governor  Chittenden,  "  must  be  reserved  for  its 
own  defence  and  protection,  exclusively,  except  in  cases 
provided  for  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
and  then  under  orders  derived  only  from  the  Command- 
er-in-Chief." 

This  proclamation  was  distributed  among  the  volun- 
teers, who   were  then   stationed   at   Plattsburgh,  and 
created  great  excitement  with   both  the  officers  and 
men.     The  agent,  by  whom  it  had  been    circulated, 
was  arrested  and  held  to  bail,  in  a  large  amount,  for  his 
appearance  before  the    United   States  District   Court. 
The  officers  also  published  a  reply  to  the  proclamation, 
in  which,  in  very   plain  terms,    they     informed    the 
Governor  that  they   should  not   obey  his  orders,  but 
should  remain   in   service    until   regularly  discharged. 
In  this  reply  they  say  ;  "  If  it  is    true,  as  your    Excel- 
lency  states,  that  we   are  out   of   the  jurisdiction  or 
control  of  the    Executive  of  Vermont,  we  would  ask 
from  whence  your  Excellency  derives  the  right,  or  pre- 
sumes to  exercise  the  power  of  ordering  us   to   return 
from  the  service  in  which  we  are  engaged  ?     If  we  are 
legally  ordered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
your  Excellency  must  be  sensible  that  you    have  no 
authority  to  order  us  out  of  that  service.     If  we  are 
illegally  ordered  into  the  service,  our  continuance  in  it 
is  either   voluntary  or   compulsory.     If  voluntary,  it 
gives  no  one  a  right  to  remonstrate  or  complain  ;  if 
compulsory,  we  can  appeal  to  the  laws  of  our  coun- 
try for  redress  against  those  who  illegally  restrain  us 
of  our  liberty.     In  either  case  we  cannot  perceive  the 
right  your  Excellency  has  to  interfere  in  the  business." 
This  was  pretty  sharp  firing,  and  effectually  silenced 
the  Governor's   batteries.     The    brigade  remained  at 
Plattsburgh,  until  it  became  known  that  the  contem- 
plated invasion  of  Canada  had  been  abandoned  for  the 
winter,  when  the  volunteers  returned  to  Vermont,  and 
probably   put    themselves   "  under   the  command  of 
Brigadier-general  Davis." 


178  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

The  campaign  of  1813  was  directed  towards  the  im- 
portant military  posts  on  Lake  Ontario  and  the  St. 
Lawrence  river.  It  commenced  with  bright  prospects 
of  success,  but  failed  through  the  imbecility  of  the 
officers  who  had  been  called  to  the  head  of  the  army. 
The  people  were  deeply  disappointed  at  the  result. 
They  had  placed  great  confidence  in  their  commanding 
Generals,  whose  numerous  dispatches  were  written  in 
lofty  style,  and  were  filled  with  predictions  of  most 
brilliant  victories.  "  I  am  destined  to  and  determined 
on  the  attack  of  Montreal,  if  not  prevented  by  some 
act  of  God,"  cries  Wilkinson,  on  the  6th  of  November, 
from  the  head  of  an  army  of  8000  men.*  "  The  Rubi- 
con is  now  passed,  and  air  that  remains  is  to  push  for- 
ward to  the  Capitol,"  is  the  bold  declaration  of  .Hamp- 
ton.f  Vain  and  empty  boasting.  Two  weeks  later, 
the  one  was  quietly  settled  at  Plattsburgh,  and  the 
other  was  building  winter  quarters  at  French  Mills  and 
Chateaugay. 

The  campaign  of  1813  is  closed.  General  Wilkinson 
attributed  its  failure  to  the  refusal  of  Hampton  to  join 
him  at  St.  Regis,  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  He  declared 
that  by  a  junction  of  the  two  armies  he  could  have  se- 
cured Montreal  in  eight  or  ten  days.  "  It  is  a  fact," 
he  writes  the  Secretary  of  War,  "  for  which  I  am 
authorized  to  pledge  myself  on  the  most  confidential 
authority,  that  on  the  4th  of  the  present  month 
[November,]  the  British  garrison  of  Montreal  consisted 
solely  of  four  hundred  marines  and  two  hundred  sailors, 
which  had  been  sent  up  from  Quebec.  What  a  golden, 
glorious  opportunity  has  been  lost  by  the  caprice  of 
Major  General  Hampton.''^ 

General  Hampton,  on  the  contrary,  censured  Wilkin- 
son for  desiring  a  junction  of  the  two  armies,  with  the 
scanty  supply  of  provisions  within  reach  of  St.  Regis. 
He  contended  that  to  have  moved  forward,  with  the 

*  Letter  to  General  Hampton, 
t  Letter  to  Secretary  of  War,  Nov.  12. 

J  A  "  glorious  opportunity"  indeed,  for  two  large  armies  to  capture 
six  hundred  men  ! 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  179 

4000  troops  under  his  command,  would  have  seriously 
weakened,  if  it  did  not  destroy  both  armies.  That  his 
true  course  was  to  throw  himself  upon  his  main  depots 
at  Plattsburgh,  and  from  that  point  to  open  a  communi- 
cation direct  to  Caughnawaga  ;  which  would  relieve 
the  western  army,  and  at  the  same  time  retain  all  the 
benefits  to  be  expected  from  a  junction  at  St.  Regis.* 

In  December  General  Hampton  was  withdrawn  from 
the  frontier,  but  General  Wilkinson  retained  his  com- 
mand until  after  the  unsuccessful  attack  upon  a  grist- 
mill in  Lacolle,  when  he  too  was  ordered  to  Head 
Quarters.  The  assault  on  the  Lacolle  mill  was  made 
on  the  30th  of  March,  1814.  About  the  first  of  that 
month  Major  Forsyth  had  been  sent  to  the  lines,  near 
Champlain,  with  300  Riflemen  and  60  Dragoons  to  pro- 
tect the  frontier,  and  to  break  up  an  illicit  intercourse 
which  had  been  carried  on  with  the  enemy  during  the 
winter.  Detachments  had  also  been  sent  to  the  Ver- 
mont frontier,  under  command  of  General  Macomb  and 
Colonel  Clark,  for  a  similar  purpose.  About  the  same 
time  General  Wilkinson  examined  the  country  around 
Rouse's  Point,  with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  batteries 
there,  which  should  command  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  and 
blockade  the  British  flotilla  within  the  Richelieu. 

These  movements  alarmed  the  British,  who  hastened 
to  strengthen  their  military  posts  in  the  vicinity  of 
Rouse's  Point.  Major  Hancock,  of  the  13th,  occupied 
Lacolle  with  six  hundred  men,  and  the  forts  at  St 
Johns  and  Isle  Aux  Noix  were  garrisoned  by  about  two 
thousand  men,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-colonel 
Williams  of  the  same  regiment.  When  Wilkinson 
learned  that  the  British  force  near  the  lines  had  been 
increased,  he  ordered  the  troops  stationed  at  Plattsburgh 
to  be  advanced  to  Champlain,  where  he  also  directed 
Macomb  and  Clark  to  concentrate  their  respective 

*  About  one  month  prior  to  this  time,  Hampton  attempted  this 
very  route,  and  backed  out  before  lie  had  penetrated  four  miles  into 
Canada.  Referring  to  the  dispatches  of  the  two  northern  Command- 
ers, Mr.  Niles,  in  his  Register,  exclaims.  '•  The  cacoethes  scribendi 
again  rages  with  singular  violence  in  the  army,  with  symptoms  fatal 
to  gallons  of  ink  and  hundreds  of  goose  quills!  " 


180  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

commands.  On  the  29th  of  March,  four  thousand  men 
were  collected  at  Champlain,  of  whom  100  were  cavalry 
and  304  artillerists.  The  latter  had  with  them  eleven 
pieces  of  cannon  of  small  calibre.  Wilkinson  now 
planned  an  attack  against  Major  Hancock,  who  occu- 
pied a  grist-mill  on  the  banks  of  the  Lacolle  river, 
about  five  miles  north  of  the  lines. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  American  army 
marched  out  of  Champlain,upon  the  Odelltown  road.  The 
advance  guard  was  composed  of  the  Rifles  under  Mfijor 
Forsyth,  and  the  30th  and  31st  and  part  of  the  llth 
infantry,  under  Colonel  Clark  ;  in  all  about  600  men. 
They  were  followed  by  two  corps  of  infantry,  under 
Brigadier-generals  Bissell  and  Smith.  A  reserve  of 
800  men  under  General  Macomb,  brought  up  the  rear. 
The  roads  at  this  time  were  obstructed  by  fallen  trees 
and  by  heavy  drifts  of  snow,  and  were  nearly  impass- 
able for  artillery.  The  guides,  too,  were  ignorant 
of  the  country,  and  led  the  army  off  from  the  main  road 
into  a  very  narrow  and  crooked  winter  path,  leading  from 
Odelltown  to  Lacolle.  On  the  way  to  Lacolle,  Bissell's 
corps  was  attacked  by  and  after  a  short  skirmish  repulsed 
a  party  of  Canadian  militia,  who  had  been  stationed  as 
a  picket  on  the  main  road  at  Odelltown. 

The  Lacolle  mill,  against  which  the  Americans  were 
now  advancing,  was  a  strong  stone  buildiug.  The  walls 
had  been  braced  on  the  inside  with  heavy  timbers,  the 
windows  closed  up  and  port  holes  made  in  every  direc- 
tion, for  the  fire  of  musketry,  A  small  clearing,  of  from 
one  to  two  hundred  yards  in  width  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  surrounded  the  mill.  The  woods  adjacent  were  of 
small  growth  but  very  thick.  The  river,  at  the  mill  was 
frozen  over,  but  below  it  was  open  to  its  mouth.  The 
Richelieu  was  also  open  from  the  mouth  of  the  Lacolle 
to  Isle  Aux  Noix, 

The  American  troops  did  not  reach  the  ground  until 
between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  a 
portion  of  Bissell's  brigade  took  a  position  to  the  south 
of  the  building  and  commenced  the  attack,  which,  for 
the  first  half-hour,  was  confined  to  a  fire  of  musketry. 


HISTORY  OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  181 

Major  McPherson  then  brought  up  a  twelve-pounder, 
which  he  planted  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to 
the  south  of  the  mill.  With  this  gun  a  brisk  but  inef- 
fectual fire  was  directed  against  the  rear  of  the  building, 
and  afterwards  against  the  side  wall. 

When  it  was  ascertained  that  the  gun  was  too  light  to 
break  down  the  walls,  orders  were  given  to  bring  up  an 
eighteen  pounder,  but  its  carriage  had   broken   down, 
three  miles  back,  and  could  not  be  repaired  in  time  to  be 
of  service  during  the  day.     The    cannonade  upon  the 
mill  was   returned  by  a  brisk  discharge  of  musketry, 
which  was  kept  up  during  the  whole  attack,  but  did  little 
damage,  as  the  American  troops  were   posted   out  of 
range  of  the  fire.     In  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  an  un- 
successful assault   was   made  upon   a   detachment  of 
Americans  who   guarded  the    north   banks  of  the  La- 
colle,  by  two  companies  of  the  13th  regiment,  sent  from 
Isle  Aux  Noix  to  reinforce  the   garrison   in    the   mill. 
While  these  companies  were  engaged  a  sortie  was  made 
against  the  centre  of  the  American  line.     The  attack 
was  executed  with  great  gallantry  but  did  not  succeed, 
although  the  artillery  were  driven  from  the  gun,  which 
would  have  been  captured,  had  not  a  portion  of  General 
Bissell's  brigade  been  sent  to  its  rescue.     A  short  time 
afterwards,  another  attack  was  made  upon   the  gun 
by  a  grenadier  company  of  the    Canadian    Fencibles 
and  a  company  of  voltigeurs,  who  had  followed  the 
movement    of     the      troops     from     the     Odelltown 
road.    This  attack   was   also   unsuccessful.      The  two 
companies,   however,   succeded    in    gaining    a  block 
house  which  stood  below  the  mill.     The  loss  of  the 
Americans  in  these  attacks  was  104  killed  and  wound- 
ed, while  that  of  the  British  was  reported  by  them  at 
10  killed  and  46  wounded.     Among  the  wounded  on 
the  side  of  the  Americans  were  Captain  McPherson 
and  Lieutenant  Larabee  of  the  Artillery  ;  Lieutenants 
Green  and  Parker  of  the  Infantry  and  Lieutenant  Kerr 
of  the    Rifles.     Lieutenant   Parker   was   struck   by  a 
random  shot.     He   survived   his   wounds   for   several 
days,  and  expressed  a  most  sincere  regret  that  he  had 


182  HISTORY  OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

not  fallen  in  close  action :  "  Hard  is  my  lot,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  that  I  should  have  received  this  wound  at 
such  a  distance  from  the  enemy,  and  where  I  was 
wholly  inactive."  Captain  McPherson,  on  the  contrary, 
was  wounded  while  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
and,  at  the  time,  was  not  expected  to  recover.  As 
they  were  bearing  him  from  the  field,  several  officers 
offered  their  personal  services  to  carry  him  to  Platte- 
burgh.  The  gallant  captain  paused  a  few  moments 
and  then,  thanking  them  for  the  interest  and  regard 
they  had  manifested,  added,  "Lsliall  be  sufficiently  hon- 
ored when  you  bear  me  to  my  grave."  The  same  spirit  of 
firmness  was  shown  by  the  other  officers,  and  by  the 
wounded  and  bleeding  privates.  Lieut.  Larabee,  when 
some  persons  were  pitying  his  misfortune,  as  he  was 
passing  to  the  rear  of  the  field,,  exclaimed,  "  Have  you 
never  seen  a  man  die ! "  A  private,  on  receiving  sim- 
ilar sympathy,  cried,  "  never  mind  it,  III  give  them 
another  fight."  Another  private,  when  struck  down, 
cried  out,  "  Give  it  to  them,  my  boys,  never  flinch." 

At  the  commencement  of  the  assault  a  few  cannon 
shots  and  several  rockets  were  fired  from  a  sloop,  and 
from  some  gun-boats  lying  in  the  river  below,  but  the 
fire  was  not  continued,  as  it  was  soon  ascertained 
that  the  American  troops  were  perfectly  protected  by 
the  intervening  ground.*  About  sundown  Wilkinson 
called  in  the  detachments  which  had  been  sent  to  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  and  shortly  afterwards  retired 
with  the  whole  army  to  Odelltown.  The  next  day  he 
returned  to  Champlain.  From  this  place  General 
Macomb  was  sent  to  Burlington,  while  the  main  army 
fell  back  upon  Chazy  and  Plattsburgh,  to  protect  the 
military  stores  at  the  latter  place. f 

*  Late  in  the  day  Lieutenant  Creswick,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  suc- 
ceeded in  landing  two  field  pieces  and  getting  them  to  the  block- 
house, but  they  were  not  fired  during  the  engagement. 

t  This  account  of  the  affair  at  Lacolle  is  derived  from  the  testi- 
mony of  Bissell,  Macomb,Clark,Totten, McPherson  and  others  before 
the  Court-martial,  on  the  trial  of  General  Wilkinson,  in  January, 
1815,  and  from  the  official  report  of  Adjutant-general  Baynes  of  the 
British  army, 


HISTOKY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  183 

On  the  9th  of  May,  Captain  Pring  of  the  British 
navy  ascended  the  Richelieu  in  the  brig  Linnet,  ac- 
companied by  five  sloops  and  thirteen  row-galle}rs,  and 
the  next  day  came  to  anchor  under  Providence  Island,* 
where  he  remained  until  the  evening  of  the  13th. 
Macdonough  was  at  this  time  at  Vergennes,  on  Otter 
Creek,  busily  engaged  in  fitting  out  the  American 
fleet,  which  lay  at  that  place.  As  soon  as  he  was  in- 
formed that  the  British  flotilla  had  entered  the  lake, 
he  ordered  Lieutenant  Cassin,  with  a  small  party  of 
sailors,  to  reinforce  Captain  Thornton,  who  had  been 
sent  from  Burlington  with  a  detachment  of  light  artil- 
lery to  man  a  battery  which  had  been  erected  at  the 
mouth  of  Otter  Creek.  A  brigade  of  the  Vermont 
Militia  were  also  ordered  out,  and  were  advantage- 
ously posted  to  oppose  the  enemy,  in  case  he  should 
attempt  to  land. 

At  day-break  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  eight  of 
the  British  galleys  and  a  bomb  sloop  anchored  off  the 
mouth  of  Otter  Creek  and  commenced  a  warm  fire 
upon  the  battery,  which  was  promptly  returned.  A 
brisk  cannonade  was  kept  up  by  both  parties  for  one 
hour  and  a  half,  when  the  attack  was  abandoned. 

After  this  repulse  the  galleys  entered  the  Bouquet 
River,  and  ascended  that  stream  for  the  purpose  of 
seizing  some  Government  flour,  which  had  been  de- 
posited in  the  grist-mill  at  the  Falls.  On  their  return, 
the  boats  were  fired  into  by  a  company  of  militia  who 
had  hastily  collected  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river 
near  its  mouth.  This  fire  killed  or  wounded  nearly  all 
the  men  in  the  rear  galley.  The  boat  afterwards  drift- 
ed into  the  lake,  and  was  towed  off  by  small  boats  sent 
to  its  assistance.  The  galleys  then  joined  the  brig 
and  the  three  sloops,  which,  during  the  attack  on  the 
battery,  had  remained  at  anchor  near  the  "  Four- 
Brothers.  On  the  16th  Captain  Pring  returned  to  Isle 
Aux  Noix.  A  few  days  afterwards  Macdonough 

*  This  is  one  of  the  small  islands  lying  uear  the  south  end  of  Grand 
Island,  opposite  Valcour. 


184  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

brought  his  fleet  out  of  Otter  Creek,  and  on  the  29th 
cast  anchor  in  Cumberland  Bay,  off  Pittsburgh. 

During  the  summer,  the  British  and  Americans  were 
actively  engaged  in  strengthening  their  positions  along 
the  Champlain  frontier.  Large  reinforcements  joined 
the  army  at  Plattsburgh,  while  the  garrisons  at  Cham- 
bly,  St.  Johns  and  Isle  Aux  Noix  were  increased  by  de- 
tachments of  troops  drawn  from  Montreal  and  Quebec. 
Major  General  Izard,*  who  had  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand on  the  withdrawal  of  Wilkinson,  was  directed  to 
erect  a  heavy  battery  at  Rouse's  Point,  to  guard  the  en- 
trance from  the  Richelieu  into  the  lake.  Considering 
the  occupation  of  that  point  hazardous,  from  its  prox- 
imity to  the  enemy's  posts  at  Lacolle  and  Isle  Aux 
Noix,  he  objected  to  erecting  works  there,  and  instead, 
caused  a  battery  of  four  eighteen  pounders  and  a  large 
redoubt  to  be  constructed  on  Cumberland  Head.f* 

On  the  llth  of  June,  a  light  brigade,  under  command 
of  General  Smith,  Forsyth's  regiment  of  Riflemen,  and 
two  companies  of  Artillery  were  encamped  near  the 
mouth  of  Dead  Creek,  about  two  miles  north  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Plattsburgh.  These  troops  advanced  as  far  as 
Chazy  on  the  17th,  and  on  the  27th  occupied  the  vil- 
lage of  Champlain.  Smith's  brigade  was  1400  strong. 
At  the  latter  date,  Colonel  Pierce,  of  the  13th  Regiment, 
was  at  Chazy  with  800  men,  and  about  1200  men  occupied 
the  works  on  Cumberland  Head,  at  Dead  Creek  and  in 
the  village  of  Plattsburgh.  Macdonough's  fleet  lay  at 
anchor  in  King's  Bay.  The  British  then  held  Lacolle 
with  a  force  of  3600  men.  They  also  had  strong  gar- 
risons at  Isle  Aux  Noix  and  St.  Johns.  Muron's  reg- 
iment, 1000  strong,  was  at  L'Acadie,  two  brigades  of 

•George  Izard  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  In  1794  he  was  ap- 
pointed fieutenant  of  artillery  and  had  charge  of  the  fortification  m 
Charleston  harbor  in  1798.  He  was  appointed  colonel  of  artillery  in 
March,  1812  ;  was  made  a  brigadier-general  in  1813,  and  a  major- 
general  in  1814.  He  was  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Arkansas  from 
1825  until  his  death  in  1828. 

t  The  works  on  Cumberland  Head  were  commenced  in  opposition  to 
the  views  of  Colonel  Totten,  who  considered  they  would  not  impede  or 
materially  injure  a  passing  fleet.  They  proved  useless,  and  were  aban- 
doned on  the  first  approach  of  the  British. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  185 

artillery  and  300  cavalry  at  Chambly,  and  2000  reg- 
ulars at  Montreal.  Their  fleet  lay  at  Isle  Aux  Tetes. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Forsyth, 
with  70  of  his  Riflemen,  penetrated  into  Canada,  as  far 
as  Odelltown,  where  he  was  attacked  by  a  detachment 
of  two  hundred  British  light  troops.  Forsyth  returned 
to  Champlain,  with  the  loss  of  one  killed  and  five 
wounded.  A  few  days  afterwards,  he  was  ordered 
again  to  enter  Canada,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the 
British  across  the  lines,  into  an  ambuscade.  He  ad- 
vanced a  few  men  on  the  main  road  leading  to  Odell- 
town, who  soon  met  a  party  of  the  enemy,  when  they 
retreated,  closely  pursued  by  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Canadians  and  Indians,  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Mahew,  until  they  reached  a  point  about  half  a 
mile  south  of  the  lines,  where  the  main  body  of  the 
Rifles  lay  concealed.  As  the  enemy  approached  the  am- 
buscade, Colonel  Forsyth  stepped  upon  a  log  to  watch 
their  movements.  He  had  scarcely  taken  this  exposed 
position,  when  he  was  shot  down  by  an  Indian ;  the 
ball  passing  through  his  breast.  The  Rifles  immediately 
uncovered  and  fired  upon  the  enemy,  who  retreated 
in  great  haste,  leaving  seventeen  of  their  number  dead 
upon  the  field.* 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Captain  Nelson,  of  the  10th 
Infantry,  crossed  into  Canada  with  a  small  detachment 
surprised  a  British  picket  in  Odelltown,  took  some  of 
them  prisoners  and  put  the  rest  to  flight.  Skirmishes 
were  very  frequent  along  the  borders,  during  the 
months  of  July  and  August,  although  seldom  attended 
with  any  considerable  loss  to  either  side. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  Macomb's  brigade,  consisting  of 
the  6th,  13th,  15th,  16th  and  29th  regiments,  set  out  in 
boats  from  Cumberland  Head  for  Chazy  Landing.  The 
same  day  Bissell's  brigade,  of  the  5th,  14th,  30th,  31st, 

*  Forsyth  was  the  best  partisan  officer  in  the  army.  His  men  de- 
clared that  they  would  avenge  his  death,  and  a  few  days  after  crossed 
the  lines  and  shot  Captain  Mahew,  who  commanded  the  Canadians  and 
Indians  at  the  time  of  Forsyth's  death.  Captain  Mahew  was  taken  to 
the  residence  of  Judge  Moore  in  Champlain,  where  he  lingered  about  a 
week  and  died. 


186  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

33d,  34th  and  45th  regiments,  started  for  Chazy  In- 
land. This  movement  placed  three  brigades,  in  ail 
4,500  strong,  at  and  in  rear  of  the  village  of  Champlain. 
The  invalids  and  200  effectives  of  Macomb's  brigade 
were  left  behind  to  finish  the  works  at  Cumberland 
Head,  and  a  working  party  of  about  400  strong,  of 
Bissell's  brigade,  was  left  at  Plattsburgh  under  Colonel 
Fenwick,  to  complete  three  redoubts  which  had  been 
commenced  near  that  village. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Sir  George  Provost  repaired 
to  the  Isle  Aux  Noix,  where  he  had  concentrated  a 
large  body  of  men,  including  several  veteran  regiments 
who  had  lately  distinguished  themselves  on  the  banks 
of  the  Adour  and  the  Garonne.  Everything  now  in- 
dicated that  a  battle  was  soon  to  be  fought  on  the 
Champlain  frontier,  which  would  decide  the  fate  of  the 
campaign  and  the  control  of  the  whole  country  border- 
ing on  the  lake.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  the 
Government  determined  to  remove  the  troops  from 
Lake  Champlain,  and  to  abandon  the  large  amount  of 
military  stores  and  provisions  collected  at  Plattsburgh, 
the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens,  and  the  great 
military  key  of  the  northern  and  eastern  States,  to  the 
protection  of  a  few  raw,  worn-out,  sick  or  disabled 
men.  This  strange  movement  evinced  a  reckless  in- 
difference on  the  part  of  the  Government  as  to  the 
result  of  the  war  in  this  quarter.* 

General  Izard  strongly  protested  against  the  removal 
of  the  troops,  and  repeatedly  represented  to  the  war 
department  the  fatal  results  that  might  be  expected 

*  It  has  been  asserted,  in  certain  quarters,  that  the  authorities  at 
Washington  never  intended  a  real  invasion  of  Canada,  for  fear  that  the 
reduction  of  Montreal  and  other  important  points  upon  the  St.  Law- 
rence might  ultimately  lead  to  annexation, and  to  a  consequent  increase 
of  political  power,  north  of  Mason  s  and  Dixon's  line.  While  old  and 
superannuated  Generals  commanded  on  this  frontier,  they  were  al- 
lowed, ad  libitum,  to  lead  their  armies  to  and  fro  along  the  outskirts 
of  Canada,  but  the  moment  a  fighting  man,  with  the  regular  snap  of 
war  in  Him,  was  found  to  be  in  command,  the  army  was  broken  up 
and  its  best  fragments  sent  to  aid  in  some  distant  operations,  where 
the  most  triumphant  success  could  not  endanger  the  cities  of  Mont- 
real and  Quebec,  which  were  justly  considered  as  the  keys  of  the 
British  Provinces, 


HISTOKY   OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  187 

from  such  a  movement.  As  late  as  the  20th  of  August, 
he  writes  the  Secretary  of  War  as  follows  :  *4 1  must 
not  be  responsible  for  the  consequences  of  abandoning 
my  present  strong  position.  I  will  obey  orders  and 
execute  them  as  well  as  I  know  how.  Major-General 
Brisbane  commands  at  Odelltown  ;  he  is  said  to  have 
between  five  and  six  thousand  men  with  him.  Those 
at  Chambly  are  stated  to  be  about  four  thousand."  On 
the  23d  he  again  writes  that  he  has  decided  to  move 
west,  by  way  of  Lake  George  and  Schenectady,  with 
4,000  men,  leaving  the  sick  and  convalescents  and 
about  1,200  men  to  garrison  Plattsburgh  and  Cumber- 
land Head,  under  command  of  Brigadier-general 
Macomb.* 

Receiving  no  counter  orders,  Izard,  on  the  29th  of 

August,  left  Champlain  and  Chazy  with  the  4th,  5th, 

10th,  12th,  13th,  14th,  15th,  16th  and  45th  Infantry, 

the  light  artillery  armed  as  infantry,  and  the  dragoons, 

and  slowly  and   reluctantly  moved  towards  the   west. 

On  the  3a  of  September  his  corps  reached  Luke  George, 

[where  they  remained  two  days,  anxiously  expecting 

\orders  to  return  to  Plattsburgh.     No  such  Gruel's  ai- 

•  rived,  and  Iz;iroTagain  put  his  column  in  motion.     On 

the  7th  he  reached  Schenectady,  from  which  place  he 

urged  on  more  rapidly  towards  the  west. 

As  soon  as  Izard  left,  General  Macomb  concentrated 
his  whole  force  at  Plattsburgh,  where  he  commenced 
immediate  preparations  to  resist  an  attack.  From  the 
returns  of  the  28th  of  August  it  appears  that  on 
that  day  he  had  the  following  troops  within  the  limits 
of  his  command : 

*  Alexander  Macomb  was  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  April  13,  1782, 
He  entered  the  army  as  a  cornet  of  cavalry  in  1799,  and  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  of  1812  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  of 
engineers  and  adjutant-general  of  the  army.  In  1813,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  3rd  regiment  of  artillery,  and  in 
January,  1814,  placed  in  command  of  the  Lake  Champlain  frontier.  For 
his  firmness  and  courage  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh  he  was  commis 
sioned  a  major-general.  On  the  disbandment  of  the  army  he  was  re 
tained  in  the  service  as  colonel  of  engineers,  and,  on  the  death  of  Major 
General  Brown  in  1835,  succeeded  to  the  office  of  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army.  He  died  at  Washington,  June  25,  1841. 


188  HISTQfcY   OP   LAKE  CHAMPLATN. 

Detachments  of  the  regiments  and  corps   that 

marched 77 

Capt.  Leonard's  company  of  Light  Artillery.     .       100 
Capt.  McGlassin's  company,  15th  Regt.    .     I     .         50 
The  6tfr,  29th,  30th,  31st,  33<1  and  34th  regi- 
ments, reported  from  the  aggregate  present 

on  the  31st  July 1771 

Capt.  Sproul's  detachment  of  13th  Regt.      .     .       200 
Sick  and  invalids  of  the  regiments  and  corps 
that  left  803 


Aggregate 3001 

There  were  two  veteran  companies  of  artillery  under 
Captain  Alexander  Brooks,  which  were  omitted  in  the 
return.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  infantry  were  also  on 
board  the  fleet,  doing  duty  as  marines.  This  brought 
the  whole  force  to  about  3400  men,  of  whom  over  1400 
were  invalids  or  non  combatants.*  With  this  force 
Macomb  prepared  to  resist  the  advance  of  fourteen 
thousand  veteran  British  soldiers. 

*  General  Macomb  in  his  detailed  report  of  the  battle  of  Platts- 
burgh  says,  "  Except  the  four  companies  of  the  6th  regiment  I  had 
not  an  organized  battalion  among  those  remaining;  the  garrison  was 
composed  of  convalescents  and  the  recruits  of  the  new  regiments — 
all  in  the  greatest  confusion,  as  well  as  the  ordinance  and  stores;  and 
the  works  in  no  state  of  defense." 


HISTOltY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  189 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Sir  George  Provost  invades  the  United  States — Preparations  at 
Plattsburgh  to  resist  his  advance — Description  of  the  American 
Forts,  etc.  The  British  encamp  at  Chazy — Battle  of  Beekman- 
town — Provost's  position  on  the  north  banks  of  the  Saranac — Cap- 
tain McGlassin  attacks  a  British  battery — American  and  British 
force  on  the  lake — Naval  engagement  off  Plattsbargh — Battle  of 
Plattsburgh — Provost  retreats  to  Canada — The  Peace. 

GENERAL  IZARD  abandoned  the  camp  at  Champlain 
on  the  29th  of  August,  and  the  next  day  Major-general 
Brisbane  advanced  his  division  from  Odelltown  to  that 
place.  On  the  3d  of  September,  fourteen  thousand 
British  troops  were  collected  at  Champlain.  This  force 
was  composed  of  four  troops  of  the  19th  light  dragoons, 
300  men ;  two  companies  Royal  Artillery,  400  men ; 
one  brigade  of  rocketeers,  twenty-five  men  ;  one  brigade 
Royal  Sappers  and  Miners,  seventy -five  men  ;  the  first 
brigade  of  infantry,  consisting  of  the  first  battalion  of 
the  27th  regiment,  the  58th  and  5th,  and  the  3rd  or 
Buffs,  in  all  3,700  men,  under  command  of  Major-gen- 
eral Robinson  ;  the  second  brigade,  formed  by  the  88th 
and  39th,  and  the  3d  battalions  of  the  27th  and  76th, 
in  all  3,600  men,  under  Major-general  Powers ;  the 
third  brigade,  composed  of  the  second  battalion  of  the 
8th  or  King's,  and  the  18th,  49th  and  6th,  3,100  men, 
under  Major-general  Brisbane.  There  was  also  a  light 
brigade  2,800  strong,  composed  of  Muron's  Swiss  regi- 
ment ;  the  Canadian  Chasseurs,  the  Voltigeurs  and  the 
frontier  light  infantry.  The  whole  was  under  Sir 
George  Provost,  Governor-general  of  Canada ;  Lieu- 
tenant-general De  Rottenburgh  being  second  in  com- 
mand. 

On  the  4th,  the  main  body  reached  Chazy  village, 
and  the  next  night,  encamped  near  Sampson's  about 
eight  miles  from  the  village  of  Plattsburgh.  At  the 


190  HISTORY   OP  LAKE  OHAMPLATN. 

same  time  Captain  Pring,  witli  a  number  of  gun-boats, 
moved  up  the  lake  as  far  as  Lsle  La  Motte,  and  erected 
a  battery  of  three  long  18  pounders  on  the  west  side  of 
that  island,  to  cover  the  landing  of  the  supplies  for  the 
troops. 

Brigadier-general  Macomb  was  now  at  Plattsburgh 
actively  engaged  in  preparations  to  resist  the  expected 
attack.  On  the  3d  of  September,  lie  issued  a  general 
order  detailing  his  plan  of  defence.  "  The  troops  (says 
this  order)  will  line  the  parapet  in  two  ranks,  leav- 
ing intervals  for  the  artillery.  A  reserve  of  one  fifth 
of  the  whole  force  in  infantry,  will  be  detailed  and 
paraded  fronting  the  several  angles,  which  it  will  be 
their  particular  duty  to  sustain.  To  each  bastion  are 
to  be  assigned,  by  the  several  commanders  of  forts,  a 
sufficient  number  of  infantry  to  line  all  the  faces  (in 
single  rank)  of  each  tier.  Should  the  enemy  gain  the 
ditch,  the  front  rank  of  the  part  assailed  will  mount 
the  parapet  and  repel  him  with  its  fire  and  bayonet. 
If  the  men  of  this  rank  are  determined,  no  human  force 
can  dispossess  them  of  that  position." 

The  American  works  were  built  upon  an  elevated 
plain,  lying  between  the  banks  of  the  river  Saranac 
and  Lake  Champlain.  The  river  descends  from  the 
west  until  it  approaches  within  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  rods  of  the  lake,  and  then  turns  towards  the  north 
and  runs  about  one  mile,  in  a  northeasterly  direction, 
to  the  lake.  The  land  between  the  river  and  lake,  at 
this  point,  is  nearly  in  the  shape  of  a  right  angled  tri- 
angle; the  perpendicular  being  formed  by  the  lake 
shore.  About  eighty  rods  above  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
and  near  the  centre  of  the  village,  is  the  "  lower  bridge," 
and  about  one  mile  higher  up,  following  the  course  of 
the  stream,  was  another  bridge,  on  the  road  leading 
south  to  Salmon  River,  called  the  "  upper  bridge."  One 
mile  and  a  half  above  this  bridge  is  a  ford  of  the  river.* 
The  stream  can  also  be  forded  at  the  bridges,  and  at 

*  This  ford   is  near  where  General  Pike  encamped  in   1812.     The 
buildings  were  burued  by  Colonel  Murray  in  1813. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN  191 

a  point  about  midway  between  them.  The  south  bank  of 
the  river,  above  the  village,  is  from  fifty  to  sixty  feet 
high,  and  steep.  About  sixty  rods  above  the  "  lower 
bridge "  is  a  deep  ravine,  running  back  from  the 
river  and  extending  nearly  to -the  lake  shore.  The 
principal  work,  called  Fort  Moreau,  stood  opposite 
the  bend  of  the  river,  and  about  half  way  between  it 
and  the  lake.  It  was  three  fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  the 
lower  bridge.  A  redoubt,  called  Fort  Brown,  stood 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  directly  opposite  the  bend, 
and  about  fifty  rods  west  of  Fort  Moreau.  There  \\as 
another  redoubt  to  the  east  of  Fort  Moreau,  near  the 
bank  of  the  lake,  called  Fort  Scott.  On  the  point,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  was  a  block-house  and  battery. 
Another  block-house  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  ra- 
vine, about  half  way  between  the  river  and  the  lake. 
The  defense  of  Fort  Moreau  was  entrusted  to  Colonel 
Melancton  Smith,  who  had  for  its  garrison  the  29th 
and  6th  Regiments.*  Lieutenant-colonel  Storrs  was 
stationed  in  Fort  Brown,  with  detachments  of  the  30th 
and  31st,  and  Major  Vinson  in  Fort  Scott,  with  the  33d 
and  34th.  The  block-house,  near  the  ravine,  was  en- 
trusted to  J2a4ilaiil^mith_ofUie  Rifles,  and  had  for  its  de- 
fence a  part  of  his  company^tmi^OfTlie  convalescents 
of  one  of  the  absent  regiments.  The  block-house  on 
the  point  was  garrisoned  by  a  detachment  of  artillery, 
under  Lieutenant  Fowler.  The  light  artillery  were  or- 
dered to  take  such  positions  as  would  best  annoy  the 
enemy.  When  not  employed  they  were  to  take  post  in 
the  ravine,  with  the  light  troops. 

As  soon  as  the  British  had  advanced  to  Chazy  village, 
Captain  Sproul  was  ordered  by  General  Macomb,  with 
two  hundred  men,  of  the  13th,  and  two  field  pieces,  to 
take  position  near  the  Dead  Creek  bridge,  and  to  abattis 

*  Colonel  Melancton  Smith  was  a  son  of  Judge  Melancton  Smith, 
brother  ot  Captain  Sidney  Smith,  U.  S.  Navy,  and  the  father  of  Rear 
Admiral  Melancton  Smith.  He  was  born  in  1780.  On  the  increase  of 
the  military  establibhment  during  the  war,  he  was  appointed  a  colonel 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  2gti\  regiment  U.  S.  Infantry.  He 
held  that  rank  until  the  army  was  reduced  after  the  peace.  He  died  at 
Plattsburgh,  28th  August,  1818,  and  was  buried  at  that  place  with  mili- 
tary and  masonic  honors. 


192  HISTORt  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

the  road  beyond,  while  Lieutenant-colonel  Appling 
was  stationed  in  advance,  with  one  hundred  and  ten 
riflemen,  and  a  troop  of  New  York  State  cavalry,  under 
Captain  Stafford  and  Lieutenant  M.  M.  Standish,  to 
watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  Macomb  also  made 
arrangements  with  Major-general  Mooers  for  calling 
out  the  New  York  Militia,  and  addressed  a  letter  to 
Governor  Chittenden,  of  Vermont,  requesting  aid  from 
that  State.  On  the  4th,  seven  hundred  of  the  Clinton 
and  Essex  Militia  had  collected  at  Plattsburgh.*  They 
were  advanced  the  next  day  about  five  miles  on  the 
north  road,  and  lay  during  the  night  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  present  stone  church  in  Beekmantown.  The 
militia  were  directed  to  watch  the  enemy,  skirmish  with 
him  as  he  advanced,  breiik  up  the  bridges  and  obstruct 
the  road  with  fallen  trees. 

On  the  5th,  as  we  have  already  stated,  the  British 
occupied  a  possition  near  Sampson's  on  the  lake  road. 
The  troops  were  there  divided  into  two  columns,  and 
moved  towards  the  village  of  Plattsburgh  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  6th,  before  day-light ;  the  right  column  crossed 
over  to  the  Beekmantown  road  ;  the  left  followed  the 
road  leading  to  the  Dead  Creek  bridge.  The  right 
column  was  composed  of  Major-general  Powers'  bri- 
gade, supported  by  four  companies  of  light  infantry  and 
a  demi-brigade  under  Major  General  Robinson.  The 
left  was  led  by  Major  General  Brisbane's  brigade.  In- 
formation of  this  contemplated  movement  having 
reached  General  Macomb  on  the  evening  of  the  5th^ 
he  ordered  Major  Wool,  with  a  detachment  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  advance  on  the  Beekmantown 
road  to  the  support  of  the  militia.  Captain  Leonard, 
of  the  light  artillery,  was  also  directed  to  be  on  the 
ground,  before  day-light,  with  two  field  pieces. 

The  right  column  of  the  British  advanced  more 
rapidly  than  the  left,  and,  at  an  early  hour,  met 
Major  Wool's  detachment  and  the  militia,  who  had 
taken  a  position  near  the  residence  of  Ira  Howe,  in 

*  These  belonged  to  Colonel  Thomas  Miller's  and  Colonel  Joiner's 
regiments,  Major  Sanford's  battalion  and  the  37th  regiment. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  193 

Beekmantown.  Wool's  party  opened  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry  upon  the  head  of  the  British  column  as  it 
approached,  severely  wounding  Lieutenant  West  of 
the  3d  Buffs,  and  about  twenty  privates.  Near  this 
place  Goodspeed  and  Jay,  two  men  of  Captain  At  wood's 
company  of  militia,  were  wounded  and  taken  prisoners. 
— Wool,  with  his  men,  now  fell  back  as  far  as  Culver's 
Hill,  four  and  a  half  miles  from  the  village,  where  he 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  British.  He  was  supported 
by  a  few  of  the  militia  who  had  been  rallied  by  their 
officers,  but  the  greater  portion  had  retreated  precipi- 
tately, after  the  first  fire  near  Howe's.  The  resistance 
at  Culver's  Hill  was  intrepid,  but  momentary,  for  the 
British  troops  pressed  firmly  forward,  occupying  the 
whole  road,  and  only  returning  their  fire  by  their  flanks 
and  leading  platoons,  the  latter  of  whom  were  once 
driven  to  the  base  of  the  hill,  after  having  reached  its 
summit.  At  this  point,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Willing- 
ton,  of  the  3d  Buffs,  fell  as  he  was  ascending  the  hill 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  Ensign  Chapman  of  the 
same  regiment  was  also  killed  there,  and  Captain 
Westropp,  of  the  58th,  severely  wounded.  Several  of 
the  Americans  were  killed,  including  Patridge  of  the 
Essex  militia. 

Learning  that  a  large  body  of  the  British  were  advanc- 
ing on  a  parallel  road,  leading  from  Beekmantown 
Corners,  to  gain  his  rear,  Wool  fell  back  as  far  as 
"  Halsey's  Corners,"  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  village  bridge.  He  was  there  joined,  about  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  by  Captain  Leonard  with  two 
pieces  of  light  artillery.  Leonard  placed  his  guns  in 
battery  at  an  angle  in  the  road,  masked  by  Wool's 
infantry  and  a  small  body  of  militia,  and  as  the  British 
approached  opened  a  most  galling  fire  upon  the  head  of 
the  column ;  the  balls  cutting  a  narrow  and  bloody 
lane  through  the  moving  mass.  Three  times  were  the 
guns  discharged,  but  even  this  terrible  fire  did  not 
check  the  progress  of  the  column,  for  the  men,  throwing 
aside  their  knapsacks,  pressed  forward,  the  bugles 
sounding  the  charge,  and  forced  Leonard  hastily  to 


194  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

withdraw  towards  the  village.  At  this  place,  a  num- 
ber of  the  British  were  killed  or  wounded.  Among 
the  latter  was  Lieutenant  Kingsbury  of  the  3d  Buffs, 
who  was  taken  into  the  adjoining  farm-house  of  Isaac 
C.  Platt,  Esqr.,  where  he  soon  afterwards  died.* 

Finding  that  the  enemy's  right  column  was  steadily 
approaching  the  village,  General  Macomb  ordered  in 
the  detachments  at  Dead  Creek;  at  the  same  time 

on    the 


The  rapid  advance  of  the  column  on 
the  Beekmantown  road  had  reversed  Appling's  position, 
and  he  had  barely  time  to  save  his  retreat,  coming  in  a 
few  rods  ahead,  as  the  British  debouched  from  the 
woods  a  little  north  of  the  village.  Here  he  poured  in 
a  destructive  fire  from  his  riflemen  at  rest,  and  con- 
tinued to  annoy  the  enemy,  until  lie  formed  a  junction 
with  Wool,  who  was  slowly  retiring  towards  the  lower 
bridge.  The  field  pieces  were  taken  across  the  bridge 
and  formed  a  battery  for  its  protection,  and  to  cover 
the  retreat  of  Wool's,  Appling's,  and  Sproul's  men. 
These  detachments  retired  alternately,  keeping  up  a 
brisk  fire  until  they  got  under  cover  of  the  works. 

The  left  column  of  the  British  army  did  not  arrive 
near  the  village,  until  after  Spronl's  and  Appling's  de- 
tachments had  been  withdrawn  ;  their  march  having 
been  retarded  by  the  obstructions  placed  in  the  road, 
and  by  the  removal  of  the  bridge  at  Dead  Creek.  As 
this  column  passed  along  the  beach  of  the  lake,  it  was 
much  annoyed  by  a  brisk  fire  from  several  galleys, 
which  Macdonough  had  ordered  to  the  head  of  the  bay. 
After  this  fire  had  continued  for  about  two  hours,  the 
wind  began  to  blow  so  heavy  from  the  south  as  to  en- 
danger the  safety  of  the  galleys.  Mr.  Duncan,  a  mid- 
shipman of  the  Saratoga,  was  therefore  sent  in  a  gig  to 
order  them  to  return.  As  that  officer  approached,  he 
received  a  severe  wound  from  the  enemy's  fire,  which 

*  Lieutenant  Kingsbury  was  buried  in  Mr.  Platt's  garden.  His  re- 
mains were  removed  to  the  village  cemetery  in  May,  1844,  by  Captain 
C.  A.  Waite,  then  in  command  at  Pittsburgh  barracks. 


PLATTSBURGH  AND  VICINITY, 
September,  1814. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKK   CHAM  PLAIN.  195 

for  a  few  minutes  was  concentrated  upon  his  boat.* 
About  this  time  one  of  the  galleys  drifted  under  the 
guns  of  the  British  and  sustained  some  loss,  but  was 
eventually  brought  off. 

As  soon  as  the  American  troops  had  crossed  the  river, 
the  planks  were  removed  from  the  lower  bridge,  ami 
were  piled  up  at  its  east  end,  to  form  a  breast-work  for 
the  infantry.  A  similar  breast-work  was  made  by  the 
militia,  at  the  upper  bridge.  The  British  light  troops 
made  several  attempts,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  to 
cross  at  the  village,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  guards  at 
the  bridge,  and  by  the  sharp  fire  of  a  company  of  volun- 
teers who  had  taken  possession  of  a  stone  grist-mill 
near  by.f  An  attemnt  was  also  made  to  cross  at  the 
upper  bridge,  which  was  gallantly  resisted  by  the 
militia.  The  loss  this  day,  on  both  sides,  was  greater 
than  the  whole  loss  during  the  rest  of  the  siege;  forty- 
five  of  the  Americans,  and  more  than  two  hundred 
British  having  been  killed  or  wounded. $ 

The  configuration  of  the  land,  on  the  north  side  ^f 
the  river,  differs  somewhat  from  that  on  the  south  side. 
The  bank  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  is  abrupt  and  about 
thirty  feet  high.  This  bank,  with  a  depression  above 
the  lower  bridge,  opposite  the  mill  pond,  follows  the 
margin  of  the  stream,  until  within  about  eighty  rods  of 
Fort  Brown,  when  the  hill  recedes  from  the  river,  and 

*  On  the  26th  of  May,  1826,  Congress  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks 
to  Midshipman  Silas  Duncan  for  his  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion. 

t  This  company  was  called  "  Aiken's  Volunteers"  and  was  composed 
of  the  following  young  men — none  of  whom  were  old  enough  to  be  liable 
to  perform  military  duty  :  Martin  J.  Aikcn,  Azariah  C.  Flagg,  Ira  A. 
Wood,  Gustavus  A.  Bird,  James  Trowbridgc,  Hazen  Mooers,  Henry  K. 
Avcrill,  St.  John  B.  L.  Skinner,  Frederick  P.  Allen,  Hiram  Walworth, 
Ethan  Everest,  Amos  Soper,  James  Patten,  Bartcmus  Brooks,  Smith 
Batemcn,  Melancton  W.  Travis  and  Flavius  Williams.  They  had  been 
out  on  the  Beekmantown  road  in  the  morning,  where  they  behaved  with 
great  gallantry.  In  May,  1826,  Congress  authorized  the  President  to 
cause  to  be  delivered  to  each,  "One  rifle  promised  to  them  by  General 
Macomh,  while  commanding  the  Champlam  department,  for  their  gal- 
lantry and  patriotic  services  as  a  volunteer  corps,  during  the  siege  of 
Plattsburgh  in  September,  1814." 

|  General  Macomb,  in  his  general  order  of  the  7th,  estimates  the  Brit- 
ish loss  at  from  two  to  three  hundred.  The  "Burlington  Sentinel"  of 
the  9th  states  it  to  have  been  about  three  hundred. 


196  HISTOHV   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

is  less  abrupt.  The  flat  and  hill  opposite  Fort  Brown 
were  covered  with  small  trees  and  bushes.  About  one 
mile  back  from  the  river  is  an  elevated  ridge  run- 
ning to  the  north.  At  Allen's  farm-house,  which  stood 
upon  this  ridge  at  the  distance  of  about  one  and  one- 
fourth  mile  from  the  American  forts,  Sir  George  Pro- 
vost established  his  head-quarters.  The  army  were 
encamped  upon  the  ridge,  and  on  the  high  ground  north 
of  the  village. 

From  the  7th  to  the  10th,  Provost  was  busily  engag- 
ed in  bringing  up  his  battering  trains  and  supplies,  and 
in  preparing  his  approaches.  He  erected  a  battery  on 
the  bank  of  the  lake  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  river ; 
another  near  the  edge  of  the  steep  bank  above  the  mill- 
pond  ;  another  near  the  burial  ground,  and  one,  supplied 
with  rocket  works,  on  the  hill  opposite  Fort  Brown. 
Besides  these,  there  were  three  smaller  batteries  erect- 
ed at  other  points  within  range  of  the  American 
forts. 

While  Provost  was  thus  engaged,  the  American  troops 
were  diligently  at  work,  day  and  night,  in  strengthen- 
ing their  defences.  The  barracks  and  hospitals  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  forts  were  burned,  and  the  sick  removed 
to  Crab  Island,  about  two  miles  distant,  where  they 
were  protected  from  the  weather  by  tents.  A  small  bat- 
tery was  erected  on  that  island,  mounting  two  six 
pounders,  which  was  manned  by  convalescents.  The 
Americans  also,  during  this  time,  fired  hot  shot  into 
and  burned  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  buildings,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  which  had  afforded  protection  to 
the  British  light  troops.* 

From  the  7th  to  the  10th,  the  pickets  and  militia 
were  engaged  in  frequent  skirmishes  with  the  enemy  at 
the  two  bridges,  and  at  the  different  fords  along  the 

*  The  "  Burlington  Sentinel  "  says  that  up  to  the  evening  of  the  8th, 
the  following  buildings  had  been  burned  :  John  Griffin's  house  and 
store,  Roswell  Wait's  house  and  store,  Mr.  Savage's  house,  B.  Buck's 
house,  Mr.  Powers'  store,  Widow  Beaumont's  house  and  store,  Charles 
Backus'  house  and  store,  Joseph  Thomas'  two  stores  and  Mr.  Gold- 
smith's house.  The  court  house  and  jail  were  also  burned. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  197 

river.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  a  party  of  British, 
under  Captain  Noadie,  attempted  to  cross  the  river,  at  a 
ford  about  five  miles  west  of  the  village.  They  were, 
however,  met  by  a  company  of  Colonel  Miller's  regi- 
ment of  militia,  under  command  of  Captain  Vaughan, 
arid  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  two  killed  and  several 
wounded.  The  same  day  Lieutenant  Runk,  of  the  6th, 
was  mortally  wounded,  as  he  was  passing  in  the  street, 
near  the  present  dwelling  of  A.  C.  Moore,  Esq. 

On  the  night  of  the  9th,  while  the  British  were  en- 
gaged in  erecting  their  rocket  battery  near  Fort  Brown, 
Captain  McGlassin  of  the  15th  Infantry,  obtained  per- 
mission from  General  Macomb  to  take  a  party  of  fifty 
men  and  attack  a  detachment  of  British  troops  at  work 
upon  the  battery.  The  night  was  dark  and  stormy  and 
favored  such  an  enterprise.  Ordering  his  men  to  take 
the  flints  from  their  muskets,  McGlassin  crossed  the 
river,  and  passing  through  a  small  clump  of  dwarf  oaks, 
reached,  unobserved,  the  foot  of  the  hill  upon  which  the 
enemy  were  at  work.  There  he  divided  his  force  into 
two  parties,  one  of  which  was  sent,  by  a  circuitous  route, 
to  the  rear  of  the  battery.  As  soon  as  this  party  had 
reached  its  position,  McGlassin,  in  a  loud  voice,  ordered 
his  men  to  charge  "  on  the  front  and  rear,"  when  they 
rushed  forward,  with  all  the  noise  it  was  possible  for 
them  to  make,  and  entered  the  work  at  both  sides  on 
the  run.  The  working  party  were  taken  by  surprise, 
and  supposing  themselves  attacked  by  overwhelming 
numbers,  retreated  precipitately  towards  the  main  camp. 
McGlassin  spiked  the  guns  and  led  his  party  back  to 
the  American  fort  without  losing  a  man.  The  whole 
affair  was  boldly  conceived  and  most  gallantly  executed. 
It  was  long  before  the  British  officers  would  believe 
that  fifty  men  could  make  so  much  noise,  or  so  badly 
frighten  over  three  hundred  of  their  veteran  troops. 

When  the  British  army  reached  Plattsburgh,  their 
gun-boats  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  Isle  La  Motte, 
where  they  remained,  under  command  of  Captain  Pring. 


198  HISTOK¥    OF    LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

On  the  8th  Captain  Downie  reached  that  place  with 
the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  llth, 
the  whole  weighed  anchor  and  stood  south  to  attack 
the  Americans,  who  lay  in  the  Bay,  off  Plattsburgh. 

As  the  British  vessels  rounded  Cumberland  Head, 
about  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  they  found  Ma'c- 
donough  at  anchor  a  little  south  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Saranac  river,  and  abreast,  but  out  of  gunshot,  of  the 
forts.  His  vessels  lay  in  a  line  running  north  from 
Crab  Island,  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  west  shore. 
The  brig  Eagle,  Captain  Henley,  lay  at  the  head  of 
the  line,  inside  the  point  of  the  head.  This  vessel 
mounted  twenty  guns  and  had  on  board  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  Next  to  her  and  0:1  the  south  lay  Mac- 
donough's  flag  ship,  the  Saratoga,  mounting  twenty- 
six  guns,  with  two  hundred  and  twelve  men.  Next 
south  was  the  schooner  Ticotideroga,  of  seventeen  guns, 
Lieutenant  Cassin,  with  one  hundred  and  ten  men, 
and  next  to  her,  and  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
line,  lay  the  sloop  Preble,  Lieutenant  Charles  Budil. 
This  vessel  carried  seven  guns  and  was  manned  by 
thirty  men.  She  lay  so  near  the  shoal  extending  north 
cast  from  Crab  Island,  as  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
turning  that  end  of  the  line.  To  the  rear  of  the  lino 
were  ten  gun-boats,  six  of  which  mounted  one  long 
twenty-four  pounder  and  one  eighteen  pound  Coliun- 
biad  each  ;  the  other  four  carried  one  12  pounder.  The 
gun-boats  had,  on  an  average,  thirty-five  men  each. 
Two  of  the  gun-boats  lay  a  little  north  and  in  rear  of 
the  Eagle,  to  sustain  the  head  of  the  line ;  the  others 
were  placed  opposite  the  intervals  between  the  different 
vessels,  and  about  forty  rods  to  their  rear.  The  larger 
vessels  were  at  anchor,  while  the  gun-boats  were  kept 
in  position  by  their  sweeps. 

The  British  fleet  was  composed  of  the  frigate  Con- 
fiance,  carrying  thirty-seven  guns,*  with  over  three 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  Captain  Downie  ;  the 

*  There  were  thirty-nine  guns  on  board  the  Confiance,  but  two  of 
them  were  not  mounted. — Cooper. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLA1N.  109 

Brig  Linnet,  Captain  Pring,  of  sixteen  guns  and  120 
men ;  the  sloop  Chub,  Lieutenant  McGhee,  and  the  sloop 
Finch,  Lieutenant  Hicks,  carrying  eleven  guns  and 
about  forty-live  men  each.  To  these  vessels  were  added 
thirteen  gun-boats  of  about  forty-five  men  each.  Five 
of  them  carried  two  guns,  and  eight  one  gun  each. 
Thus  the  force  of  the  Americans  consisted  of  one  ship, 
one  brig,  one  schooner,  one  sloop,  and  ten  gun-boats, 
manned  by  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two  men,  and 
carrying  in  all  eighty-six  guns.  The  British  had  one 
frigate,  one  brig,  two  sloops  and  thirteen  gun-boats, 
manned  by  over  one  thousand  men,  and  carrying  in  all 
ninety-five  guns.  The  metal  of  the  vessels  on  both 
sides  was  unusually  heavy.  The  Saratoga  mounted 
eight  long  twenty-fours,  six  forty-twos,  and  twelve 
thirty-twos,  while  the  Confiance  had  the  gun-deck  of  a 
heavy  frigate,  with  thirty  long  twenty-fours  upon  it. 
She  also  had  a  spacious  top  gallant  forecastle,  and  a 
poop  that  came  no  further  forward  than  the  mizen 
mast.  On  the  first  were  a  long  twenty-four  on  a 
circle,  and  four  heavy  .carronades ;  two  heavy  carron- 
ades  were  mounted  on  the  poop.* 

When  the  British  fleet  appeared  in  sight  the  Finch 
led  and  kept  in  a  course  toward  Crab  Island,  while  the 
other  vessels  hove  to  opposite  the  point  of  Cumber- 

*  Cooper's  Naval  History.  Mr.  Alison  (in  his  History  of  England, 
vol.  4)  says :  "The  relative  strength  of  the  squadron  on  this,  as  in 
every  other  naval  action  during  the  war,  where  the  British  were  de- 
feated, was  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Americans  " — a  statement  unwar- 
ranted by  the  facts,  and  unnecessary  to  sustain  the  high  reputation  of 
the  British  navy,  The  following  are  the  number  and  size  of  the  guns 
used  on  both  fleets. 

AMERICAN.  BRITISH. 

14,  long  24  pounders.  31,  long  24  pounders. 

6,  42  pound  carronades.  7,  1 8 
29,  32      "             "  16,  12 
12,  long  18  pounders.  5,  6 

12,  long  12         "  12,  32  pound  carronades. 

7,  long    9        "  6,  24      " 
6,  18  pound  Columbiads.                       17,  18       " 

I,  1 8  pound  Columbiad. 

86  guns.  95  guns. 


200  HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

land  Head,  to  allow  the  gun-boats  to  come  up,  and  to 
receive  final  instructions  as  to  the  plan  of  attack.  The 
vessels  then  filled  and  headed  in  towards  the  American 
fleet ;  passing  inside  of  the  point  of  Cumberland  Head; 
the  Chub  laying  her  course  a  little  to  windward  of  the 
Eagle,  in  order  to  support  the  Linnet,  which  stood 
directly  towards  that  vessel.  Captain  Downie  had  de- 
termined to  lay  the  Confiance  athwart  the  Saratoga, 
but  the  wind  baffling,  he  was  obliged  to  anchor  at 
about  two  cables  length  from  that  ship.  The  Finch, 
which  had  run  about  half  way  to  Crab  Island,  tacked 
and  took  her  station,  with  the  gun-boats,  opposite  the 
Ticonderoga  and  Preble. 

As  the  British  vessels  approached  they  received  the 
fire  of  the  American  fleet ;  the  brig  Eagle  firing  first 
and  being  soon  followed  by  the  Saratoga  and  the  sloop 
and  schooner.*  The  Linnet  poured  her  broadside  in- 
to the  Saratoga,  as  she  passed  that  ship  to  take  her  po- 
sition opposite  the  Eagle  Captain  Downie  brought 
his  vessel  into  action  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  and 
did  not  fire  a  gun  until  he  was  perfectly  secured,  al- 
though his  vessel  suffered  severely  from  the  fire  of  the 
Americans.  As  soon  however  as  the  Confiance  had 
been  brought  into  position,  she  discharged  all  her  lar- 
board guns,  at  nearly  the  same  instant.  The  effect  of 
this  broadside,  thrown  from  long  twenty-four  pounders, 
double  shotted,  in  smooth  water,  was  terrible.  The  Sar- 
atoga trembled  to  her  very  keel :  about  forty  of  her 
crew  were  disabled,  including  her  first  Lieutenant,  Mr. 
Gamble,  who  was  killed  while  sighting  the  bow  gun. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement  the 

*  The  first  gun  fired  on  board  the  Saratoga  was  a  long  twenty-four, 
which  Macdonough  himself  sighted.  The  shot  is  said  to  have  struck 
the  Confiance  near  the  outer  hawse-hole,  and  to  have  passed  the  length 
of  her  deck,  killing  and  wounding  several  men,  and  carrying  away  the 
wheel.  In  clearing  the  decks  of  the  Saratoga,  some  hen-coops  were 
thrown  overboard  and  the  poultry  permitted  to  run  at  large.  Startled 
by  the  report  of  the  opening  gun  of  the  Eagle,  a  young  cock  flew  upon 
a  gun  slide,  clapped  his  wings  and  crowed.  The  men  gave  three  cheers 
aud  considered  the  little  incidence  a  happy  omen. — Coopers  Naval  His- 
tory and  Niles'1  Register. 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  201 

Chub,  while  manoeuvring  near  the  head  of  the  Amer- 
ican line,  received  a  broadside  from  the  Eagle,  which 
so  crippled  her  that  she  drifted  down  between  the  op- 
posing vessels  and  struck.  She  was  taken  possession  of 
by  Mr.  Charles  Platt,  one  of  the  Saratoga's  midship- 
men, and  was  towed  in  shore  and  anchored.  The  Chub 
had  suffered  severely ;  nearly  half  of  her  men  having 
been  killed  or  wounded.  About  an  hour  later  the  Finch 
was  driven  from  her  position  by  the  Ticonderoga,  and, 
being  badly  injured,  drifted  upon  the  shoal  near  Crab 
Island,  where  she  grounded.  After  being  fired  into 
from  the.  small  battery  on  the  Island,  she  struck  and 
was  taken  possession  of  by  the  invalids  who  manned 
the  battery.* 

After  the  loss  of  the  Finch,  the  British  gun-boats 
made  several  efforts  to  close,  and  succeeded  in  compel- 
ling the  sloop  Preble  to  cut  her  cables  and  to  anchor 
in  shore  of  the  line,  where  she  was  of  no  more  service 
during  the  engagement.  The  gun-boats,  emboldened  by 
this  success,  now  directed  their  efforts  towards  the  Ti- 
conderoga, against  which  they  made  several  very  gal- 
lant assaults,  bringing  the  boats,  upon  two  or  three  oc- 
casions, within  a  few  feet  of  the  schooner's  side.  They 
were  however  as  often  beaten  back,  and  the  schooner, 
during  the  remainder  of  the  day,  completely  covered 
that  extremity  of  the  line. 

While  these  changes  were  taking  place  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  line,  a  change  was  also  made  at  the  other  ex- 

*  Mr.  Alison  (History  of  England,  vol.  4),  referring  to  the  event, 
says  :  "  The  Finch,  a  British  brig,  grounded  out  of  shot  and  did  not  en- 
gage ;  ' '  and  again,  ' '  The  Finch  struck  on  a  reef  of  rocks  and  could  not 
get  into  action."  Had  Mr.  Alison  taken  the  trouble  to  read  Captain 
Pring's  official  account  of  the  engagement  he  would  have  found  in  it  the 
following  statement  :  "  Lieutenant  Hicks,  of  the  Pinch,  had  the  mortifi- 
cation to  strike  on  a  reef  of  rocks,  to  the  eastward  of  Crab  Island,  about 
the  middle  of  the  engagement,  which  prevented  his  rendering  that  assist- 
ance to  the  squadron,  that  might  from  an  officer  of  such  ability,  have 
been  expected."  It  is  very  convenient  for  the  English  historian  to  con- 
vert a  small  sloop  of  eleven  guns  and  forty  men  into  a  brig,  and  to  keep 
that  large  vessel  out  of  the  action  altogether,  but,  as  I  have  before  said, 
such  statements  are  unnecessary  to  preserve  the  well-earned  reputation 
of  the  British  navy  for  bravery  or  gallantry  in  action 


202  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLA1N. 

tremity.  The  Eagle,  having  lost  her  springs  and  find- 
ing herself  exposed  to  the  fire  of  both  the  Linnet  and 
Confiance,  dropped  down  and  anchored  between  the  Sar- 
atoga and  Ticonderoga,  and  a  little  inshore  of  both. 
From  this  position  she  opened  afresh  on  the  Confiance 
and  the  British  gun-boats,  with  her  larboard  guns.  This 
change  relieved  the  Brig,  but  left  the  Saratoga  exposed 
to  the  whole  fire  of  the  Linnet,  which  sprung  her  broad- 
sides in  such  a  manner  as  to  rake  the  ship  on  her 
bows. 

The  fire  from  the  Saratoga  and  Confiance  now  began 
materially  to  lessen,  as  gun  after  gun  on  both  vessels 
became  disabled,  until  at  last  the  Saratoga  had  not  a 
single  available  gun,  and  the  Confiance  was  but  little 
better  off.  It  therefore  became  necessary  that  both 
vessels  should  wind,  to  continue  the  action  with  any 
success.  .This  the  Saratoga  did  after  considerable 
delay ;  but  the  Confiance  was  less  fortunate,  as  the 
only  effect  of  her  efforts  was  to  force  the  vessel  ahead. 
As  soon  as  the  Saratoga  came  around  she  poured  a  fresh 
broadside  from  her  larboard  guns  into  the  Confiance, 
which  stood  the  fire  for  a  few  minutes  and  then  struck. 
The  ship  then  brought  her  guns  to  bear  on  the  Linnet, 
which  surrendered  in  about  fifteen  minutes  afterwards. 
At  this  time  the  British  gun-boats  lay  half  a  mile  in 
the  rear,  where  they  had  been  driven  by  the  sharp  fire 
of  the  Ticonderoga  and  the  Eagle.  These  boats  low- 
ered their  colors  as  soon  as  they  found  the  larger 
vessels  had  submitted,  but  not  being  pursued,  for  the 
American  gun-boats  were  sent  to  aid  the  Confiance  and 
Linnet,  which  were  reported  to  be  in  a  sinking  condi- 
tion, they  escaped,  together  with  a  store  sloop  which 
lay  near  the  point  of  Cumberland  Head  during  the 
battle. 

The  engagement  continued  for  two  hours  and  a  half, 
and  was  the  most  severely  fought  naval  battle  of  the 
war.  The  Saratoga  had  twenty-eight  men  killed  and 
twenty-nine  wounded;  the  Eagle,  thirteen  killed  and 
twenty  wounded  ;  the  Ticonderoga,  six  killed  and  six 
wounded,  and  the  Preble,  two  killed.  The  loss  on  the 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  203 

gun-boats  was  three  killed  and  tnree  wounded.  Total 
killed  and  wounded,  one  hundred  and  ten,  being  equal 
to  every  eighth  man  in  the  fleet.  Besides,  the  Saratoga  had 
been  hulled  fifty-five  times  and  was  twice  on  fire  ;  the 
Eagle  was  hulled  thirty-nine  times.  The  carnage  and  de- 
struction had  been  as  great  on  the  other  side.  The  Confi- 
ance  had  forty-one  men  killed  and  eighty-three  wound- 
ed ;  the  Linnet  reported  her  casualties  at  ten  killed  and 
fourteen  wounded,  but  the"  killed  and  wounded  prob- 
ably exceeded  fifty ;  the  Chub  was  reported  at  six 
killed  and  ten  wounded,  and  the  Finch  at  two  wound- 
ed. No  account  is  given  of  the  loss  on  the  gun-boats, 
but,  from  their  close  and  severe  contest  with  the  Ticon- 
deroga,  it  must  have  been  large.  The  total  of  killed  and 
wounded  on  the  British  side  was  equal  to  at  least  one- 
fifth  of  the  whole  number  of  men  in  their  fleet.  The 
Confiance  had  been  hulled  one  hundred  and  five  times. 
So  severe  had  been  the  contest,  that  at  the  close  of 
the  action  there  was  not  a  mast  in  either  fleet  fit  for 
use.* 

Among  those  killed  on  the  side  of  the  British  were 
Captain  Downie,  who  fell  soon  after  the  action  com- 
menced ;  Captain  Alexander  Anderson,  of  the  Marines  ; 
Midshipman  William  Gunn,  of  the  Confiance ;  and 
Lieutenant  William  Paul  and  Boatswain  Charles  Jack- 
son of  the  Linnet.  Among  the  wounded  were  Mid- 
shipman Lee,  of  the  Confiance ;  Midshipman  John 
Sinclair,  of  the  Linnet ;  and  Lieutenant  James  McGhee, 
of  the  Chub.  The  American  oflicers  killed  were  Peter 
Gamble,  1st  Lieutenant  of  the  Saratoga ;  John  Stans- 
bury,  1st  Lieutenant  of  the  Ticondeioga,  and  Sailing 
Master  Rogers  Carter.  Midshipman  James  M.  Baldwin 
was  wounded  and  died  from  the  effects  of  the  wound  in 

*  "I  could  only  look  at  the  enemy's  galleys  going  off,  in  a  shattered 
condition  ;  for  there  was  not  a  mast  in  either  squadron  that  could  stand 
to  make  sail  on  ;  the  lower  rigging  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung 
down  as  though  it  had  been  just  placed  over  the  mast  heads." — Mac- 
donough's  Report  of  the  Battle.  "Our  masts,  yards  and  sails  were  so 
shattered  that  one  looked  like  so  many  bunches  of  matches,  and  the 
other  like  a  bundle  of  rags." — Letter  of  Midshipman  Lee  of  the  Con- 
fiance. 


204  HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

the  city  of  New  York  on  23d  July,  1816.  Referring  to 
the  death  of  three  of  these  officers,  Mr.  Cooper,  in  his 
History  of  the  Navy,  says  : — "  Lieutenant  Giunble  was 
on  his  knees,  sighting  the  bow-gun,  when  a  shot  entered 
the  port,  split  the  quoin,  drove  a  portion  of  it  against 
his  breast  and  laid  him  dead  on  the  quarter-deck  with- 
out breaking  his  skin.  Fifteen  minutes  later  one  of 
the  American  shot  struck  the  muzzle  of  a  twenty-four 
on  the  Confiance,  dismounted  it,  sending  it  bodily  in- 
board against  the  groin  of  Captain  Downie,  killing  him 
also  without  breaking  the  skin.  Lieutenant  Stansbury 
suddenly  disappeared  from  the  bulwarks  forward 
while  superintending  some  duty  with  the  springs  of 
the  Ticonderoga.  Two  days  after  the  action  his  body 
rose  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  it  was  found  that 
it  had  been  cut  in  two  with  a  round  shot. 

It  is  said  that  scarcely  an  individual  escaped  onboard 
of  either  the  Confiance  or  Saratoga,without  some  injury. 
Macdonough  was  twice  knocked  down ;  once  by  the 
spanker-boom,  which  was  cut  in  two  by  a  shot  and  fell 
upon  his  back,  as  he  was  bending  his  body  to  sight  a 
gun ;  and  again  by  the  head  of  a  gunner,  which  was 
driven  against  him,  and  knocked  him  into  the  scuppers. 
Mr.  Bruin  the  sailing-master  of  the  Saratoga,  had  his 
clothes  torn  off  by  a  splinter,  while  winding  the  ship. 
Mr.  Vallette,  acting  Lieutenant,  had  a  shot-box,  on 
which  he  was  standing,  knocked  from  under  his  feet 
and  he  too  was  once  knocked  down  by  the  head  of  a 
seamen.  Very  few  escaped  without  some  accident,  and 
it  appears  to  have  been  agreed  on  both  sides,  to  call  no 
man  wounded  who  could  keep  out  of  the  hospital.* 
Midshipman  Lee  of  the  Confiance,  who  was  wounded 
in  the  action,  thus  describes  the  condition  of  that  vessel. 
"  The  havoc  on  both  sides  is  dreadful.  I  don't  think 
there  are  more  than  five  of  our  men,  out  of  three  hun- 
dred, but  what  are  killed  or  wounded.  Never  was  a 
shower  of  hail  so  thick,  as  the  shot  whistling  about  our 
ears.  Were  you  to  see  my  jacket,  waist-coat  and  trow- 

*  Cooper's  Naval  History. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  205 

sers,  you  would  be  astonished  how  I  escaped  as  I  did, 
for  they  are  literally  torn  all  to  rags  with  shot  and 
splinters;  the  upper  part  of  my  hat  was  also  shot  away. 
There  is  one  of  our  marines  who  was  in  the  Trafalgar 
action  with  Lord  Nelson,  who  says  it  was  a  mere  flea- 
bite  in  comparison  with  this."* 

As  soon  as  the  British  fleet  were  observed  approach- 
ing Cumberland  Head,  on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  Sir 
George  Provost  ordered  General  Power's  brigade,  and 
a  part  of  General  Robinson's  brigade,  consisting  of  four 
companies  of  light  infantry,  and  the  3d  battalions  of 
the  27th  and  76th,  to  force  the  fords  of  the  Saranac, 
and  to  assault  the  American  works.  The  advance  was 
made,  and  the  batteries  were  opened,  the  moment  the 
action  on  the  lake  commenced. 

The  British  attempted  to  cross  the  river  at  three 
points ;  one  at  the  village  bridge,  where  they  were  re- 
pulsed by  the  artillery  and  guards  under  Captains 
Brooks,  Richards  and  Smith;  one  at  the  upper  bridge, 
where  they  were  foiled  by  the  pickets  and  Riflemen, 
under  Captain  Grovener  and  Lieutenants  Hamilton 
and  Smith,  supported  by  a  detachment  of  militia ;  and 
the  third  at  the  ford  near  "  Pike's  cantonment,"  where 
they  were  resisted  by  the  New  York  Militia,  under 
Major-general  Mooers  and  Brigadier-general  Wright. 
At  this  latter  point,  several  companies  succeeded  in 
crossing,  driving  the  militia  before  them  towards  Sal- 
mon River.  The  British  advanced,  firing  by  platoons,  but 
with  such  carelessness  of  aim  as  to  do  but  little  injury.f 
At  Salmon  River,  the  militia  were  joined  by  a  large 
detachment  of  the  Vermont  volunteers,  and  were  soon 

*  Letter  to  his  brother,  published  in  Niles'  Register,  vol.  8.  The  re- 
sult of  the  engagement  depended,  from  the  first,  upon  the  Saratoga  and 
Confiance.  When  Macdonough  anchored  his  vessel  he  not  only  attached 
springs  to  the  cables,  but  also  laid  a  kedge  broad  off  on  each  bow  of  the 
Saratoga,  and  brought  the  hawsers  in  upon  the  two  quarters.  To  this 
timely  precaution  he  was  indebted  for  the  victory,  for  without  the  lar- 
board hawser  he  could  not  have  brought  his  fresh  broadside  into  action. 

f  I  have  conversed  with  several  who  boast  of  their  activity  during  this 
retreat,  and  who  felt  a  personal  interest  in  the  subject  at  the  time,  and 
they  all  state  that  the  balls,  at  each  volley,  struck  the  pine  trees  at  least 
fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 


206  HISTORY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

afterwards  reinforced  by  Lieutenant  Sumpter,  with  a 
party  of  artillery  and  a  field-piece.  Here  they  rallied 
and  were  drawn  up  to  meet  the  attack  of  the  British 
troops,  who  were  rapidly  approaching.  Just  at  this 
moment  an  officer*  rode  up  to  the  ranks,  proclaiming 
the  welcome  intelligence  that  the  British  fleet  had  sur- 
rendered. With  three  hearty  cheers  the  militia  imme- 
diately pressed  forward  against  the  enemy,  who,  having 
been  at  the  same  moment  recalled,  were  now  rapidly 
retiring  towards  the  ford.  In  their  retreat,  a  company 
of  the  76th  lost  their  way  among  the  thick  pines, 
where  they  were  surrounded  and  attacked  by  several 
companies  of  militia  and  Vermont  volunteers.  Three 
Lieutenants  and  twenty-seven  men  were  made  prisoners, 
and  Captain  Purchase  and  the  rest  of  the  company 
killed.f  The  rest  of  the  British  detachment  regained 
the  north  bank  of  the  Saranac  without  much  loss.J 

Although  no  further  attempt  was  made  to  cross  the 
river,  the  British  batteries  continued  their  fire  upon  the 
American  works  until  sundown.  This  fire  was  re- 
turned by  the  guns  of  Fort  Brown,  which  were  managed 
during  the  day  with  great  skill,  by  Captain  Alexander 
Brooks  and  the  corps  of  veteran  artillery  under  his 
command. 

Sir  George  Provost  had  now  under  his  command  over 
thirteen  thousand  troops,  more  than  half  of  whom  had 
served  with  distinction  under  Wellington,  while  the 
American  force  did  not  exceed  fifteen  hundred  regulars, 
fit  for  duty,  two  thousand  five  hundred  Vermont  volun- 
teers, under  Major-general  Strong,  six  hundred  of 
whom  had  just  arrived,  and  General  Wright's  brigade 

*  Chancellor  Walworth,  then  Adjutant- general  of  Major-general 
Mooers'  division. 

f  It  is  said  Captain  Purchase  was  shot  down,  while  waving  a  white 
hadkerchief  over  his  head,  as  a  notice  that  he  had  surrendered. 

J  Sir  George  Provost,  in  his  account  of  the  battle,  says:  "  Scarcely  had 
his  Majesty's  troops  forced  a  passage  across  the  Saranac  and  ascended 
the  heights  on  which  stand  the  American  •works.1''  &c. — This  would  imply 
that  the  British  had  gained  ground  near  the  forts,  bnt  such  was  not  the 
case.  They  crossed  nearly  two  miles  above  the  forts,  and  followed  the 
militia  from,  instead  of  towards  the  American  works. 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  207 

of  Clinton  and  Essex  Militia,  seven  hundred  strong, 
under  command  of  Major-general  Mooers.  With  his 
superior  force,  Provost  could  have  forced  the  passage 
of  the  Saranac,  and  have  crushed  Macomb  by  the  mere 
weight  of  numbers.  But  the  victory  would  have  been 
attended  with  great  sacrifice  of  life,  and  would  have 
led  to  no  permanent  advantage  to  the  British.  Mac- 
donough  was  in  command  of  the  lake;  reinforce- 
ments of  regulars  were  hastening  to  the  support  of 
Macomb ;  the  militia  were  rising  en  masse,  in  every 
quarter,  and  within  two  weeks  Provost  would  have 
been  surrounded,  his  supplies  from  Canada  cut  off,  and 
an  only  alternative  left  to  force  his  way  back  with  the 
loss  of  half  his  army,  or  to  have  surrendered.  In  a 
dispatch  to  Earl  Bathurst,  after  referring  to  the  loss  of 
the  fleet,  he  says :  "  This  unlooked-for  event  depriving 
me  of  the  co-operation  of  the  fleet,  without  which  the 
further  prosecution  of  the  service  was  become  imprac- 
ticable, I  did  not  hesitate  to  arrest  the  course  of  the 
troops  advancing  to  the  attack,  because  the  most 
complete  success  would  have  been  unavailing ;  and  the 
possession  of  the  enemy's  works  offered  no  advantage 
to  compensate  for  the  loss  we  must  have  sustained  in 
acquiring  possession  of  them." 

This  was  a  just  and  merited  compliment  to  the  skill 
and  bravery  of  the  American  regulars  and  militia.  The 
former  were  few  in  number,  but  resolute  and  unflinch- 
ing. Among  the  latter  the  greatest  enthusiasm  now 
prevailed.  They  had  become  accustomed  to  the  "  smell 
of  powder,"  and  animated  by  the  recollection  of  Mac- 
donough's  victory,  were  ready  to  oppose  any  force  that 
might  attempt  the  passage  of  the  Saranac.  It  is  due 
to  the  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  Vermont,  to  men- 
tion the  fact  that  as  soon  as  Governor  Chittenden  re- 
ceived information  from  General  Macomb  of  the  inva- 
sion by  the  enemy,  he  issued  a  spirited  address  calling 
on  the  Vermont  militia  to  rally  to  the  aid  of  their 
countrymen  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake.  This 
address  was  most  nobly  responded  to,  for  when  the 
requisition  of  the  President  for  a  reinforcement  of 


208  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

two  thousand  militia  to  aid  General  Macomb,  reached 
the  Governor,  he  replied  that  the  order  had  not  only 
been  anticipated,  but  far  exceeded,  by  the  voluntary 
enrollment  of  his  fellow-citizens.  The  same  enthu- 
siasm pervaded  the  militia  on  the  New  York  side.  When 
Major-general  Mooers*  orders  were  received  for  the 
Militia  of  Warren,  and  Washington  Counties  to  as- 
semble, en  masse,  and  march  to  the  frontier,  there 
appeared,  under  arms,  two  hundred  and  fifty  men 
more  than  had  ever  mustered  at  an  inspection  or 
review. 

Acting  upon  the  considerations  stated  in  his  dispatch 
to  Earl  Bathurst,  Sir  George  Provost  prepared  for  an 
instant  and  hasty  retreat.  As  soon  as  the  sun  went 
down,  he  dismantled  his  batteries,  and,  at  9  o'clock  at 
night,  sent  off  his  heavy  baggage  and  artillery,  which 
were  quickly  followed  by  the  main  army ;  the  rear 
guard,  consisting  of  a  light  brigade,  started  a  little  be- 
fore day-break,  leaving  behind  them  vast  quantities  of 
provisions,  tents,  camp  equipage,  ammunition,  etc.  The 
sick  and  wounded  were  also  left  behind,  consigned  to 
the  generosity  and  humane  care  of  General  Macomb.  So 
silent  and  rapid  was  the  retreat,  that  the  main  army 
had  passed  through  Beekmantown  before  its  absence 
was  known  in  the  American  camp.  The  light  troops, 
volunteers  and  militia  were  immediately  sent  in  pur- 
suit. They  followed  the  retiring  column  as  far  as 
Chazy,  and  took  a  few  prisoners.  The  roads  were  mud- 
dy, and  very  heavy  at  the  time,  which  not  only  pre- 
vented further  pursuit,  but  delayed  Provost's  retreat. 
The  last  of  the  British  army  did  not  leave  Champlain 
until  the  24th.* 

General  Macomb,  in  his  returns,  states  the  number 
of  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  the  regular  force 
under  his  command,  during  the  skirmishes  and  bom- 
bardment, at  one  hundred  and  twenty-three.  The  only 
commissioned  officer  killed  was  Lieutenant  George  W. 

*  Provost  was  recalled  to  England  soon  after  his  return  to  Canada, 
when  charges  were  preferred  against  him.  He  died  in  December  1815, 
before  his  trial  had  commenced. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  209 

Runk,  of  the  6th  Regiment,  who  was  severely  wounded 
on  the  7th  and  died  the  next  day.*  The  loss  among 
the  volunteers  and  militia  was  small.  The  loss  of  the 
British  has  never  been  correctly  ascertained.  Their 
accounts  fix  the  casualities  of  the  expedition  at  under 
two  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  four  hundred 
lost  by  desertion.  This,  however,  is  fur  below  the  true 
number.  At  the  time,  the  American  officers  believed 
the  total  loss  of  the  British,  from  the  time  they  h'rst 
crossed  the  lines  until  they  again  entered  Canada,  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and  by  desertion,  was 
over  two  thousand  men. — Seventy-five  prisoners  were 
taken.* 

On  the  12th  the  Vermont  volunteers  returned  home, 
and  on  the  13th  the  New  York  Militia  were  disbanded 
by  General  Macomb,  and  orders  issued  countermanding 
the  march  of  thousands,  who  were  flocking  to  the 
frontier. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  September,  the  re- 
mains of  the  lamented  Gamble,  Stansbury,  Carter  and 
Barron  were  placed  in  separate  boats,  which,  manned 
by  crews  from  their  respective  vessels,  proceeded  to  the 
Confiance,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  British  officers, 
with  the  bodies  of  Downie,  Anderson,  Paul,  Gunn,  and 
Jackson.  At  the  shore  of  the  lake,  the  procession  was 
joined  by  a  large  concourse  of  the  military  and  citizens 
of  Plattsburgh,  who  accompanied  the  bodies  to  the  vil- 
lage burial-ground.  Near  the  centre  of  the  graveyard, 

*  Lieut.  Rusk  was  buried  on  Crab  Island.  His  remains  were  removed 
to  the  burial-ground  in  the  village  of  Plattsburgh  on  the  igth  September 
1816. 

t  The  following  list  of  British  officers  killed  or  wounded  during  the  in- 
vasion was  published  in  the  London  Gazette  of  the  igth  and  26th  Nov- 
ember, 1814, 

KILLED. — Captain  (Brevet  Lieut. -Col.)  James  Willington  and  Ensign 
John  Chapman,  of  the  3d  Buffs.  Captain  John  Purchase,  76th  Regiment, 
foot. 

WOUNDED. — Captaiu  T.  Crosse,  A.  D,  C.,  (slightly);  Lieut.  R.  Kings- 
bury,  severely,  (since  dead);  Lieut.  John  West,  (severely);  Lieutenants 
Benson  and  Holmes,  (slightly);  all  of  the  3d  Buffs.  Captain  L.  West- 
ropp,  (severely,);  Lieut.  C.  Brohier  and  Adjutant  Lewis,  (slightly);  of 
the  58th  regiment,  foot. 


210  HISTORY  OP   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

beneath  the  shade  of  two  pines,  now  rest  the  ashes  of 
those  gallant  officers.  The  sailors  and  marines,  who 
fell  in  the  engagement,  were  buried  on  Crab  Island, 
side  by  side,  in  one  common  grave. 

With  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh  closed  all  active  op- 
erations upon  the  Champlaiu  frontier.  For  several 
months,  however,  the  inhabitants  were  kept  in  a  state 
of  alarm,  as  it  was  rumored  that  the  British  authorities 
contemplated  another  campaign.  Major-general.  Mooers, 
New  York,  and  Major-general  Strong,  of  Vermont, 
ordered  their  respective  divisions  of  militia  to  hold 
themselves  in  readiness  for  active  service.  General 
Macomb  remained  at  Plattsburgh  with  a  small  force,  and 
caused  two  redoubts  to  be  thrown  up  a  short  distance 
to  the  south  of  Fort  Moreau,  which  he  named  Fort 
Tompkins  and  Fort  Gaines. 

The  Treaty  of  Ghent  was  signed  on  the  24th  of  De- 
cember, 1814,  and  on  the  17th  of  February  following, 
was  ratified  by  the  United  States  Senate.  With  the 
publication  of  this  treaty  all  fears  of  further  hostilities 
ceased. 


APPENDIX. 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  ANNI- 
VERSARY OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  PLATTSBURGH,  BY 
THE  CITIZENS  OF  PLATTSBURGH  AND  THE  CLINTON 
COUNTY  MILITARY  ASSOCIATION,  SEPTEMBER  llth, 
1843. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  CLINTON  COUNTY  MILITARY 
ASSOCIATION,  held  on  the  21st  of  August,  1843,  it  was, 
on  motion  of  Mayor  A.  A.  Prescott, 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  do  celebrate,  in  some 
appropriate  manner,  the  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of 
Plattsburgh,  on  the  eleventh  of  September  next. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  the  Trustees  of  the  Village,  and  make  ar- 
rangements for  the  Celebration. 

Maj.  Gen.  Skinner,  Brig.  Gen.  Halsey  und  Col.  Moore, 
were  appointed  said  committee. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  were  duly  appointed 
a  committee  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  to  confer  with 
the  committee  of  the  Military  Association  in  making 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  proper  celebration 
of  the  day  : — 

William  F.  Haile,  Moss  K.  Platt,  D.  B.  McNeil,  C.  S. 
Mooers,  R.  A.  Gilman,  G.  M.  Beckwith,  G.  W.  Palmer, 
S.  Couch,  Benj.  Ketchum,  R.  A.  Weed,  J.  Bailey,  Peter 
S.  Palmer,  T.  DeForris,  William  H.  Morgan,  J.  W. 
Tuttle. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments, Col.  D.  B.  McNeil,  (who  was  Acting  Assistant 
Adjutant-general  of  the  Militia  forces  at  Plattsburgh, 


212  HISTORY  OP  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

in  September  1814,)  was  designated  to  act  as  President 
of  the  day,  and  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  Plattsburgh,  in  con- 
nection with  such  other  persons  as  may  unite  with  them, 
will  on  the  llth  of  September,  instant,  proceed  to  the 
erection  of  plain  marble  monuments  to  mark  the  sev- 
eral spots  where  rest  the  mortal  remains  of  the  Amer- 
ican and  British  officers  who  fell  at  the  memorable 
"  Battle  of  Plattsburgh." 

Resolved,  That  R.  A.  Gilman,  George  Moore,  and 
Roby  G.  Stone  be  a  committee  to  procure  the  monu- 
ments and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  carry 
out  the  foregoing  resolution. 

Resolved,  That  Brig.-Gen.  Wool,  and  Lt.-Col.  B. 
Riley,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  be  requested  to  unite  with 
the  citizens  and  military  of  this  place  in  the  proposed 
celebration,  and  the  erection  of  the  monuments  above- 
mentioned. 

Resolved,  That  Gen.  Skinner,  Gen.  Halsey,  and  Col. 
R.  G.  Stone  be  the  committee  of  invitation. 

Resolutions  were  also  passed  inviting  the  U.  S.  Offi- 
cers and  troops  stationed  at  this  post,  the  surviving 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regular  army,  the  Clinton 
and  Essex  Militia,  and  the  Vermont  volunteers  who 
participated  in  the  events  of  that  time,  to  unite  with  us 
in  the  proposed  celebration. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  arrangements,  the 
Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Plattsburgh  was  celebrated 
in  an  appropriate  manner  by  the  Clinton  County  Mili- 
tary Association  and  the  citizens  of  Plattsburgh  and 
its  vicinity  generally,  on  Monday  last.  General  Wool 
and  suite,  and  several  other  gentlemen  who  were  in 
the  battle  of  the  llth,  were  present  by  special  invita- 
tion. 

The  procession  was  formed  at  Fouquet's  hotel  at  10 
o'clock,  under  the  direction  of  Gen.  C.  Halsey,  Chief 
Marshal,  assisted  by  Messrs.  C.  S.  Mooers,  G.  W. 
Palmer,  and  R.  G.  Stone,  escorted  by  the  U.  S.  Troops 


APPENDIX.  213 

at  this  post  under  the  command  of  Capt.  C.  A.  Waite, 
and  moved  to  the  Park  in  front  of  the  Court  House, 
where  an  able  and  patriotic  address  was  delivered  by 
Col.  A.  C.  Moore,  to  a  large  and  attentive  audience  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen. 

After  the  address,  the  procession  was  again  formed 
and  moved  to  the  burying-ground,  where  a  square  was 
formed  by  the  U.  S.  Troops  and  the  Military  Associa- 
tion around  the  unmarked  graves  of  those  who  fell  in 
the  battle  of  Plattsburgh. 

After  a  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Witherspoon,  and  an 
address  by  Gen.  Skinner,  the  president  of  the  day 
(Col.  McNeil)  said: 

u  FELLOW-CITIZENS  : — The  President  of  the  day  has 
designated  our  distinguished  guest,  Brigadier-General 
Wool,  of  the  United  States  Army,  who  commanded  the 
detachment  of  American  regular  troops  opposed  to  that 
division  of  the  British  Army  which  advanced  upon 
Plattsburgh  by  the  Beekmantown  road  on  the  6th  of 
September,  1814,  to  erect  a  monument  at  the  head  of 
the  grave  of  Col.  Willington,  of  the  3d  Regiment  of 
British  Buffs,  who  gallantly  fell  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment  at  Culver's  Hill,  on  the  Beekmantown  road, 
in  the  memorable  battle  of  the  6th  of  September,  1814. 

"  The  division  of  the  British  Army  in  which  the 
brave  and  lamented  Willington  fell  was  not  less  than 
4,000  strong  ;  and  when  we  take  into  view  the  fact  that 
General  Wool  (then  a  Major),  with  a  light  corps  of  but 
250  regular  troops,  all  told,  contested  every  inch  of 
ground  with  this  formidable  force  in  their  descent  upon 
Plattsburgh,  the  selection  of  General  Wool  to  perform 
the  melancholy  duty  assigned  to  him  cannot  fail  to  give 
deep  interest  to  the  solemn  occasion  which  brought  us 
together  upon  tbis  hallowed  spot.  Nothing  can  be  more 
appropriate  than  that  the  monument  about  to  be  erected 
should  be  raised  by  the  hand  of  an  officer  who  bore  an 
honorable  and  conspicuous  part  in  the  events  of  the 
memorable  day  on  which  the  gallant  Willington  fell. 
It  is  a  pleasing  spectacle  to  see  the  living  brave  doing 
honor  to  the  memory  of  the  illustrious  dead." 


214  IIISTOKY  OF  T.AKK  CHAMPLAIN. 

Gen.  Wool  proceeded  to  discharge  the  duty  assigned 
him,  and  said : 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS  AND  SOLDIERS  : — The  duty  as- 
signed me  by  the  President  of  the  day,  in  behalf  of  the 
citizens  of  Plattsburgh  and  the  Military  Association  of 
the  County  of  Clinton,  is  no  less  gratifying  to  me  than 
it  is  honorable  and  magnanimous  to  its  authors,  and 
will  furnish  an  example  worthy  of  imitation  for  all  time 
to  come.  It  is  not  less  a  holy  and  pious  offering  to  the 
illustrious  dead,  than  the  offspring  of  noble  and  gener- 
ous hearts  to  a  fallen  foe,  and  will  furnish  themes  of 
praise  to  the  end  of  time.  It  will  be  a  healing  balm  to 
the  wounded  hearts  of  relatives  and  friends — whilst  it 
will  not  fail  to  call  forth  from  every  Briton  who  passes 
this  consecrated  spot  tears  of  gratitude  as  well  as  tears 
of  sympathy. 

"  With  these  brief  remarks,  I  now  erect,  in  behalf  of 
the  citizens  of  Plattsburgh  and  the  Military  Association 
of  Clinton  County,  this  monument  to  the  memory  of 
Colonel  Wellington,  who  fell  the  6th  of  September, 
1814,  at  Culver's  Hill,  leading  to  the  charge  the  ad- 
vance of  the  British  army  marching  on  Plattsburgh." 

The  President  of  the  day  said: 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS  : — Our  esteemed  fellow-citizen, 
Judge  Haile,  late  a  captain  in  the  United  States  Army, 
will  now  proceed  to  place  monuments  at  the  respective 
graves  of  Captain  Purchase,  late  of  the  British  Army  ; 
Lieut.  Runk,  Lite  of  the  6th  Regiment,  United  States 
Infantry ;  and  Ensign  John  Chapman,  late  of  the  3d 
Buffs." 

The  President  of  the  day,  in  designating  Judge  Haile 
to  perform  the  duty  assigned  to  him,  did  so  from  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  fact  that  no  officer  of  his  rank  ever 
left  the  army  of  the  United  States  with  a  higher  and 
more  enviable  reputation  as  a  fearless  and  fighting  offi- 
cer than  did  Captain  Haile. 

Judge  Haile  proceeded  to  the  duty  assigned  him, 
with  suitable  remarks. 

The  President  of  the  day  then  sa^id : 


APPENDIX.  215 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS  :  —  The  Colonels  Miller  and 
Manly  and  Maj.-Gen.  Skinner,  all  of  whom  bore  a  dis- 
tinguished part  in  the  battles  of  Beekmantown  and 
Plattsburgh,  is  assigned  the  honor  of  erecting  monu- 
ments- to  the  memory  of  Lieutenant  Peter  Gamble, 
United  States  Navy;  John  Stansbuiy,  United  States 
Navy,  and  Midshipman  James  M.  Baldwin,  United 
States  Navy. 

The  gentlemen  above  mentioned  proceeded  to  dis- 
charge the  duty  assigned  them,  accompanied  by  ap- 
propriate remarks. 

The  President  said — 

"To  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen,  Platt  R.  Halsted, 
Esq.,  late  a  Lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Army,  I 
assign  the  honor  of  placing  monuments  at  the  graves 
of  Captain  Alexander  Anderson  of  the  British  marines ; 
Lieutenant  William  Paul,  midshipman  ;  William  Gunn 
and  boatswain  Charles  Jackson  of  the  British  Navy, 
and  Joseph  Barren,  Pilot  on  board  Commodore  Mac- 
donough's  ship — all  of  whom  fell  in  the  naval  engage- 
ment in  Cumberland  Bay,  off  Plattsburgh,  on  the  llth 
of  September,  1814. 

"Joseph  Barren,  Pilot,  was  personally  known  to 
Lieut-Halsted  and  myself,  and  was  a  man  held  in  high 
estimation  for  his  intelligence  and  patriotism  by  all 
who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance." 

Lieut.  Halsted,  in  the  discharge  of  the  duty  assigned 

him,  erected  the  monuments  at  the  head  of  the  graves 
of  the  three  Lieutenants  of  the  British  Navy,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  grave  of  Joseph  Barron,  and,  as  near  as 
we'  could  catch  his  remarks,  spoke  as  follows : 

"  I  take  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  erecting  this  monu- 
ment at  the  head  of  the  grave  of  Joseph  Barron,  Com- 
modore Macdonough's  confidential  Pilot.  I  knew  him 
well — he  was  about  my  own  age — we  were  school  boys 
together — a  warmer  hearted  or  a  braver  man  never 
trod  the  deck  of  a  ship." 

Lieut  Springer,  late  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  was  desig- 
nated by  the  President  of  the  day,  to  erect  the  monu- 


216  HISTORY   OF  LAKE   CHAMPLA1N. 

ment  at  the  head  of  the  grave  qf  Sailing  Master  Rogers 
Carter,  U.  S.  Navy,  and  proceeded  to  discharge  that 
duty. 

A  benediction  was  then  pronounced  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Witherspoon,  and  the  procession  returned  to  Fou- 
quet's  Hotel,  where  the  committee  of  arrangements, 
the  invited  guests  and  the  Military  Association 
partook  of  an  excellent  dinner,  got  up  in  Fouquet's 
best  style. 

Among  the  sentiments  offered  on  this  occasion  was 
the  following,  by  General  Skinner  : 

Brig.-general  Wool,  U.  S.  Army — The  Hero  of 
Beekmantown  as  well  as  Queenstown — 

"  His  laurels  are  green,  though  his  locks  are  gray." 

General  Wool,  with  much  feeling,  responded  to  this 
sentiment  as  follows : 

Mr.  PRESIDENT — I  rise  with  a  heart  overflowing 
with  gratitude  to  respond  to  the  sentiment  just  given 
by  my  friend  at  the  other  end  of  the  table.  I  find  it 
impossible,  however,  filled  as  I  am  with  emotion,  to 
make  a  speech,  or  give  utterance  to  my  feelings  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  the  occasion.  Were  it  otherwise,  I 
could  say  but  little  that  has  not  already  been  said.  I 
might  speak  of  the  campaigns  of  1812  and  '13,  which 
closed  with  the  most  gloomy  forebodings.  I  might 
also  speak  of  the  campaigns  of  1814,  when  the  mantle 
of  darkness  was  cast  off,  and  a  blaze  of  light  shone 
forth  along  the  frontier  from  Fort  Erie  to  Plattsburgh, 
and  finally  closed,  with  a  brilliancy  seldom  equalled, 
on  the  plains  of  New  Orleans.  But  these  periods  have 
already  been  noticed  and  described  in  the  most  elo- 
quent and  stirring  language.  Therefore,  little  remains 
for  me  to  add,  could  I  give  utterance  to  my  feelings, 
but  to  express  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  kind  par- 
tiality with  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  allude  to 
my  services.  I  would,  however,  remark  that  although 
at  one  period  of  the  war  darkness  and  despondency  ap- 


APPENDIX.  217 

peared  to  pervade  our  beloved  country,  there  was  one 
bright  spot  exempt  from  the  general  gloom.  It  was 
here  in  this  place,  Plattsburgh,  that  the  patriotic  in- 
habitants never  wavered  nor  quailed  before  the  legions 
of  Great  Britain. — They  stood  by  their  country  in  the 
darkest  hour,  and  never  failed  to  cheer  and  comfort 
the  war-worn  soldier,  and  to  receive  him  with  open 
arms  whether  he  returned  victorious,  or  was  driven 
back  by  the  force  of  circumstances.  Who  that  was  at 
Plattsburgh  in  1812,  '13  and  '14,  does  not  remember 
with  delight  Mooers,  Smith,  Sailly,  Delord,  Bailey, 
Palmer  and  Ransom,  all  patriotic  citizens  and  devoted 
friends  of  their  country  in  war  as  well  as  in  peace,  but 
who  now  rest  in  the  mansions  of  eternal  bliss.  With 
these  few  remarks,  Mr.  President,  I  would  offer  this 
sentiment — 

The  Citizens  of  Plattsburgh  and  the  Military  As- 
sociation of  Clinton  County — This  day  attests  their 
magnanimity  and  greatness  of  soul,  by  the  homage 
paid  to  the  illustrious  dead  who  fell  fighting  the  battles 
of  their  country. 


218 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


POSITION  OF  THE  GRAVES, 

With  the  Inscriptions  on  the  Monuments  erected  Sept.  11,  1843. 

WEST. 


Lieut. 

Colonel 

Ensign 

G.   W.  RUNK, 

WILL1NGTON 

J.    CHAPMAN, 

6th  Regt.  U.    S. 

3d  Regt.    Buffs, 

3d  Buffs, 

Army,  8th  Sept. 

B.  Army. 

B.  Army. 

1814. 

6th  Sept.    1814. 

6th  Sept.    1814. 

Lieut. 

KINGSBURY, 
3d  Buffs, 
B.  Army. 

6th  Sept.    1814. 


Lieut. 

Lieut. 

Sailing  Master 

Peter  Gamble, 

John  Stansbury, 

Rogers  Carter, 

U.  S    N. 

U.  S.  N. 

U.  S.  N. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

Midshipman 
J.  M.  Baldwin, 

U.  S.  N. 
nth  Sept.    1814.' 


Pilot 

Joseph  Barren, 
Ship  Saratoga. 
11  tli  Sept.  1814. 


Sacred 

to  the  memory  of 
GEORGE  DOWN  IE,  ESQ., 
A  Post  Captain  in  the  Royal  Brit. 
Navy,   who    gloriously  fell    on 
board  His  B.  M.  S.  the  Con- 
fiance,  while  leading  the 
vessels   under  his  com- 
mand  to  the 

attack  of  the   American    Flotilla, 
at  anchor  in  Cumberland  Bay, 

off  Plattsburph, 
on  the  nth  September,  1814. 

To  mark  the  spot  where  the  remains 

of    a    gallant    officer  and   sincere 

friend  were  honorably  interred, 

this  stone  has  been   erected  by  his 

affectionate  Sister-in-Law, 
MARY  DOWNIB. 


Boatswain 
Chas.  Jackson, 

B.  Navy, 
nth  Sept.  1814. 


Capt.  Purchase, 

Alx.'  Anderson, 

Acting  Lieut. 

Midshipman 

76th  Regt. 

Capt.    Marines, 

William  Paul, 

William   Gunn, 

B.  Army. 

B.  Navy, 

B.  Navy. 

B.  Navy. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

nth  Sept.  1814. 

nth  Sept.   1814. 

EAST. 

*  This  is  an  error.  Midshipman.  Baldwin  died  in  New  York  City  in  1816  from  the 
effects  of  a  wound  received  on  Lake  Champlain.  (See  Plattsburgh  Republican,  Aug. 
5,  1816.) 


BATTLE  OF  VALCOUR, 

OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


GENERAL  ARNOLD  TO  GENERAL  GATES. 

SCHUYLEB'S  ISLAND,  October  12,  1776. 

DEAR  GENERAL: — Yesterday  morning  at  eight 
o'clock,*  the  enemy's  fleet,  consisting  of  one  ship 
mounting  sixteen  guns,  one  snow  mounting  the  same 
number,  one  schooner  of  fourteen  guns,  two  of  twelve, 
two  sloops,  a  bomb-ketch  and  a  large  vessel  (that  did 
not  come  up)  with  fifteen  or  twenty  flat-bottomed  boats 
or  gondolas,  carrying  one  twelve  or  eighteen  pounder 
in  their  bows,  appeared  off  Cumberland  Head.  We 
immediately  prepared  to  receive  them.  The  galleys 
and  Royal  Savage  were  ordered  under  way  ;  the  rest  of 
our  fleet  lay  at  an  anchor.  At  eleven  o'clock  they  ran 
under  the  lee  of  Valcour  and  began  the  attack.  The 
schooner,  by  some  bad  management,  fell  to  leeward  and 
was  first  attacked ;  one  of  her  masts  was  wounded  and 
her  rigging  shot  away.  The  captain  thought  prudent 
to  run  her  on  the  point  of  Valcour,  where  all  the  men 
were  saved.  They  boarded  her,  and  at  night  set  fire  to 
her.  At  half-past  twelve  the  engagement  became  gen- 

*American  Archives,  Fifth  series,  vol.  ii.  1038.  In  the  same  letter, 
published  in  the  journal  of  The  New  York  Provincial  Congress,  vol. 
ii.,  p.  344,  the  time  is  stated  at"  10  o'clock." 


220  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLATN. 

eral,  and  very  warm.  Some  of  the  enemy's  ships  and 
all  their  gondolas  beat  and  rowed  up  within  musket 
shot  of  us.  They  continued  a  very  hot  fire  with  round 
and  grape  shot  until  five  o'clock,  when  they  thought 
proper  to  retire  to  about  six  or  seven  hundred  yards 
distance,  and  continued  the  fire  till  dark. 

The  Congress  and  Washington  have  suffered  greatly, 
the  latter  lost  her  First  Lieutenant  killed,  Captain  and 
Master  wounded.  The  New  York  lost  all  her  officers 
except  the  captain.  The  Philadelphia  was  hulled  in 
so  many  places,  that  she  sunk  about  one  hour  after  the 
engagement  was  over.  The  whole  killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  about  sixty.  The  enemy  landed  a  large 
number  of  Indians  on  the  Island  and  each  shore,  who 
kept  an  incessant  fire  on  us  but  did  little  damage.  The 
enemy  had,  to  appearance,  upwards  of  one  thousand 
men  in  bateaux  prepared  for  boarding.  We  suffered 
much  for  want  of  seamen  and  gunners.  I  was  obliged, 
myself  to  point  most  of, the  guns  on  board  the  Congress, 
which  I  believe  did  good  execution.  The  Congress  re- 
ceived seven  shot  between  wind  and  water;  was  hulled 
a  dozen  times ;  had  her  main  mast  wounded  in  two 
places  and  her  yard  in  one.  The  Washington  was 
hulled  a  number  of  times ;  her  main  mast  shot  through 
and  must  have  a  new  one.  Both  vessels  are  very  leaky, 
and  want  repairing. 

On  consulting  with  General  Waterbury  and  Colonel 
Wigglesworth,  it  was  thought  prudent  to  return  to 
Crown  Point,  every  vessel's  ammunition  being  nearly 
three-fourths  spent,  and  the  enemy  greatly  superior  to 
us  in  ships  and  men.  At  seven  o'clock  Colonel  Wig- 
glesworth, in  the  Trumbull,  got  under  way ;  the  gon- 
dolas and  small  vessels  followed,  and  the  Congress  and 
Washington  brought  up  the  rear.  The  enemy  did  not 
molest  us.  Most  of  the  fleet  is  this  minute  come  to  an 
anchor.  The  wind  is  small  to  the  southward.  The 
enemy's  fleet  is  under  way  to  leeward,  and  beating  up. 
As  soon  as  our  leaks  are  stopped,  the  whole  fleet  will 
make  the  utmost  despatch  to  Crown  Point,  where  I  beg 
you  will  send  ammunition,  and  your  further  orders  for 


BATTLE  OF   VALCOUR.  221 

us.  On  the  whole  I  think  we  have  had  a  very  fortu- 
nate escape,  and  have  great  reason  to  return  our  hum- 
ble and  hearty  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  preserving 
and  delivering  so  many  of  us  from  our  more  than  sav- 
age enemies. 

I  am,  dear  General,  your  affectionate  servant, 

B.  ARNOLD. 

P.  S. — I  had  not  moved  on  board  the  Congress  when 
the  enemy  appeared,  and  lost  all  my  papers  and  most 
of  my  clothes  on  board  the  schooner.  I  wish  a  dozen 
batteaux,  well  manned  could  be  sent  immediately  to 
tow  up  the  vessels  in  case  of  a  southerly  wind. 

I  cannot,  in  justice  to  the  officers  in  the  fleet,  omit 
mentioning  their  spirited  conduct  during  the  action. 

B.  A. 


GENERAL  ARNOLD  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

TICONDEBOGA,  October  15,  1776. 

DEAR  GENERAL  : — I  make  no  doubt  before  this  you 
have  received  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  GeneralGates  of  the 
12th  instant,  dated  at  Schuyler's  Island,  ad  vising  of  an  ac- 
tion between  our  fleet  and  the  enemy  the  preceding  day, 
in  whicli  we  lost  a  schooner  and  a  gondola.  We  remained 
no  longer  at  Schuyler's  Island  than  to  stop  our  leaks, 
and  mend  the  sails  of  the  Washington.  At  two  o'clock 
p.  M.  the  12th,  weighed  anchor  with  a  fresh  breeze  to 
the  southward.  The  enemy's  fleet  at  the  same  time  got 
under  way  ;  our  gondola  made  very  little  way  ahead. 
In  the  evening  the  wind  moderated,  and  we  made  such 
progress  that  at  six  o'clock  next  morning  we  were  about 
off  Willsborough,  twenty-eight  miles  from  Crown-Point. 
The  enemy's  fleet  were  very  little  way  above  Schuyler's 
Island  ;  the  wind  breezed  up  to  the  southward,  so  that 
we  gained  very  little  by  beating  or  rowing,  at  the  same 
time  the  enemy  took  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  northeast, 
and  by  the  time  we  had  reached  Split-Rock,  were  along- 
side of  us.  The  Washington  and  Congress  were  in  the 


222  HISTOHY   OF    LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

rear,  the  rest  of  our  fleet  were  ahead  except  two  gondo- 
las sunk  at  Sclmyler's  Island.  The  Washington  galley 
was  in  such  a  shattered  condition,  and  had  so  many 
men  killed  and  wounded,  she  struck  to  the  enemy  after 
receiving  a  few  broadsides.  We  were  then  attacked  in 
the  Congress  galley  by  a  ship  mounting  twelve  eight- 
een-pounders,  a  schooner  of  fourteen  sixes,  and  one  of 
twelve  sixes,  two  under  our  stern,  and  one  on  our 
broadside,  within  musket-shot.  They  kept  up  an  in- 
cessant fire  on  us  for  about  five  glasses,  with  round  and 
grape-shot,  which  we  returned  as  briskly.  The  sails, 
rigging,  and  hull  of  the  Congress  were  shattered  and 
torn  in  pieces,  the  First  Lieutenant  and  three  men 
killed,  when,  to  prevent  her  falling  into  the  enemy's 
hands,  who  had  seven  sail  around  me,  I  ran  her  ashore 
in  a  small  creek  ten  miles  from  Crown-Point,  on  the 
east  side  when,  after  saving  our  small-arms,  I  set  heron 
lire  \vith  four  gondolas,  with  whose  crews,  I  reached 
Crown-Point  through  the  woods  that  evening,  and  very 
luckily  escaped  the  savages,  who  waylaid  the  road  in 
two  hours  after  we  passed.  At  four  o'clock  yesterday 
morning  I  reached  this  place,  exceedingly  fatigued  and 
unwell,  having  been  without  sleep  or  refreshment  for 
near  three  days. 

Of  our  whole  fleet  we  have  saved  only  two  galleys, 
two  small  schooners,  one  gondola,  and  one  sloop. 
General  Waterbury,  with  one  hundred  and  ten  prison- 
ers, were  returned  by  Carleton  last  night.  On  board 
of  the  Congress  we  had  twenty-odd  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Our  whole  loss  amounts  to  eighty  odd. 

The  enemy's  fleet  were  last  night  three  miles  below 
Crown  Point ;  their  army  is  doubtless  at  their  heels. 
We  are  busily  employed  in  completing  our  lines  and  re- 
doubts, which  I  am  sorry  to  say  are  not  so  forward  as 
I  could  wish.  We  have  very  few  heavy  cannon,  but 
are  mounting  every  piece  we  have.  It  is  the  opinion 
of  General  Gates  and  St.  Clair  that  eight  or  ten  thou- 
sand Militia  should  be  immediately  sent  to  our  assist- 
ance, if  they  can  be  spared  from  below.  I  am  of  opin- 
ion the  enemy  will  attack  us  with  their  fleet  and  army 


BATTLE  OF   VALCOTJR.  223 

at  the  same  time.  The  former  is  very  formidable,  a 
list  of  which  I  am  favored  with  by  General  Waterbury, 
and  have  enclosed.  The  season  is  so  far  advanced,  our 
people  are  daily  growing  more  healthy. 

We  have  about  nine  thousand  effectives,  and  if  prop- 
erly supported,  make  no  doubt  of  stopping  the  career 
of  the  enemy.  All  your  letters  to  me  of  late  have  mis- 
carried. I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear  by  General 
Gates  3rou  are  unwell.  I  have  sent  you  by  General 
Waterbury  a  small  box  containing  all  my  public  and 
private  papers,  and  accounts,  with  a  considerable  sum 
of  hard  and  paper  money,  which  beg  the  favor  of  your 
taking  care  of. 

I  am,  dear  General,  your  most  affectionate,  humble 
servant,  B.  ARNOLD. 

To  Hon.  Major  General  Schuyler. 

N.  B.  Two  of  the  enemy's  gondolas  sunk  by  our  fleet 
the  first  day,  and  one  blown  up  with  sixty  men. 


CAPTAIN       THOMAS      PRINGLE       TO      MR       STEPHENS, 
SECRETARY     OF     THE     ADMIRALTY. 

On  board  the  Maria,  off  Crown-Point, 
October  15,  1876. 

IT  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  embrace  this 
opportunity  of  congratulating  their  Lordships  upon 
the  victory  completed  the  13th  of  this  month,  by  his 
Majesty's  fleet  under  my  command,  upon  Lake  Cham- 
plain. 

Upon  the  llth  I  came  up  with  the  Rebel  fleet,  com- 
manded by  Benedict  Arnold;  they  were  at  anchor 
under  the  Island  Valcour,  and  formed  a  strong  line, 
extending  from  the  island  to  the  west  side  of  the  conti- 
nent. The  wind  was  so  unfavorable,  that,  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  nothing  could  be  brought  into  action 
with  them  but  the  gun-boats.  The  Carleton  schooner, 
commanded  by  Mr.  Dacres,  who  brings  their  Lordships 
this,  by  much  perseverance,  at  last  got  to  their  assist- 


224  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

ance  ;  but  as  none  of  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet  could 
then  get  up,  I  did  not  think  it  by  any  means  advisable 
to  continue  so  partial  and  unequal  a  combat ;  conse- 
quently, with  the  approbation  of  Ids  Excellency  General 
Carleton,  who  did  me  the  honor  of  being  on  board  the 
Maria,  I  called  off  the  Carleton  and  gun-boats,  and 
brought  the  whole  fleet  to  anchor  in  a  line  as  near  as 
possible  to  the  Rebels,  that  their  retreat  might  be  cut 
off ;  which  purpose  was  however  frustrated  by  the  ex- 
treme obscurity  of  the  night ;  and  in  the  morning  the 
Rebels  had  got  a  considerable  distance  from  us  up  the 
lake. 

Upon  the  13th,  I  again  saw  eleven  sail  of  their  fleet 
making  off  to  Crown  Point,  who,  after  a  chase  of  seven 
hours,  I  came  up  with  in  the  Maria,  having  the  Carle- 
ton  and  Inflexible  a  small  distance  astern ;  the  rest  of 
the  fleet  almost  out  of  sight.  The  action  began  at  twelve 
o'clock,  and  lasted  two  hours,  at  which  time  Arnold,  in 
the  Congress  galley,  and  five  gondolas  ran  on  shore, 
and  were  directly  abandoned  and  blown  up  by  the 
enemy,  a  circumstance  they  were  greatly  favored  in  by 
the  wind  being  off  shore,  and  the  narrowness  of  the 
lake.  The  Washington  galley  struck  during  the  ac- 
tion, and  the  rest  made  their  escape  to  Ticonderoga. 

The  killed  and  wounded  in  His  Majesty's  fleet,  in- 
cluding the  artillery  in  the  gun-boats,  do  not  amount 
to  forty  ;  but  from  every  information  I  have  yet  got, 
the  loss  of  the  enemy  must  indeed  be  very  considerable. 


CAPTAIN  DOUGLASS,  OF  THE  ISIS,  TO  MB.  STEPHENS. 

QUEBEC,  October,  21,  1776. 

Having  for  the  space  of  six  weeks  attended  the  naval 
equipments  for  the  important  expedition  on  Lake 
Champlain,  I,  on  the  4th  inst,  saw  with  unspeakable 
joy  the  reconstructed  ship  now  called  the  Inflexible,  &nd 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Schank,  her  rebuilder,  sail 


BATTLE  OF    VALOOUR.  225 

from  St.  Johns,  twenty-eight  days  after  her  keel  was 
laid,  towards  the  place  of  rendezvous,  taking  in  her 
eighteen  twelve-pounders  beyond  the  shoal,  which  is 
this  side  of  Isle-aux-Noix,  in  her  way  up. 

The  prodigies  of  labor  which  have  been  effected  since 
the  Rebels  were  driven  out  of  Canada,  in  creating,  re- 
creating and  equipping  a  fleet  of  above  thirty  fighting 
vessels  of  different  sorts  and  sizes,  and  all  carrying 
cannon,  since  the  beginning  of  July,  together  with  trans- 
porting over  land,  and  afterwards  dragging  up  the  two 
rapids  of  St.  Terese  and  St.  Johns,  thirty  long-boats, 
the  flat-bottomed  boats,  a  gondola  weighing  about 
thirty  ton  and  above  four  hundred-batteaux,  almost  ex- 
ceed belief.  His  Excellency  the  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  army  and  all  the  other  generals  are  of  the  opinion  that 
the  sailors  of  His  Majesty's  ships  and  transports,  have, 
far  beyond  the  usual  limits  of  their  duty,  exerted  them- 
selves to  the  utmost  on  this  great  and  toilsome  occa- 
sion ;  nor  has  a  man  of  that  profession  uttered  a  single 
word  expressive  of  discontent,  amidst  all  the  hardships 
they  have  undergone,  so  truly  patriotic  are  the  motives 
by  which  they  are  actuated.  To  crown  the  whole, 
above  two  hundred  prime  seaman  of  the  transports,  im- 
pelled by  a  due  sense  of  their  country's  wrongs,  did 
most  generously  engage  themselves  to  serve  in  our 
armed  vessels  during  the  expedition,  and  embarked  ac- 
cordingly. Such  having  then  been  our  unremittting 
toils,  I  am  happy  beyond  expression  in  hereby  acquaint- 
ing my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  that  the 
destruction  of  almost  the  whole  of  the  Rebel  fleet,  in 
two  successive  battles  on  the  llth  and  13th,  instant,  is 
our  reward.  I  have  received  a  letter  from  Captain 
PRENGLE,  of  the  Lord  Howe,  armed  ship,  who  commands 
the  officers  And  seaman  on  the  lake,  and  who  bestows 
the  highest  encomiums  on  their  behavior  in  both  en- 
gagements. The  Rebels  did  by  no  means  believe  it 
possible  for  us  to  get  upon  Lake  Champlain  this  year  ; 
were  much  surprised  at  the  first  sight  of  the  van  of  our 
force,. but  ran  into  immediate  and  utter  confusion  the 
moment  a  three-masted  ship  made  her  appearance,  being 


226  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

a  phenomenon  they  never  so  much  as  dreamed  of.*  Thus 
have  His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects  here,  contrary  to  a 
crude  but  prevailing  idea,  by  straining  every  nerve  in 
their  country's  cause,  outdone  them  in  working,  as  much 
as  in  fighting.  The  ship  Inflexible,  with  the  Maria  and 
Carleton  schooners,  all  reconstructions,  did  the  whole  of 
the  second  day's  business,  the  flat-bottomed  rideau, 
called  the  Thunderer,  and  the  gondola,  called  the  Royal 
Convert  with  the  gun-boats,  not  having  been  able  to 
keep  up  with  them.  The  said  gondola  was  taken  from 
the  Rebels  the  day  the  seige  of  Quebec  was  raised.  The 
loss  we  have  sustained,  considering  the  great  superiority 
of  the  insurgents,  is  very  small,  consisting  of  between 
thirty  and  forty  men  killed  and  wounded,  seamen, 
soldiers,  artillery-men  and  all ;  eight  whereof  were 
killed  outright  and  six  wounded  on  board  the  Carleton. 


GENERAL       WATERBURY       TO      THE      PRESIDENT,    OF 
CONGRESS. 

STANFOKD,  October  24, 1776. 

HONORED  SIR  : — I  have  now  returned  home  on  pa- 
role. Your  Honor  has  undoubtedly  heard  of  my  mis- 
fortune of  being  taken  prisoner  on  the  13th  instant,  on 
Lake  Champlain.  I  shall  give  your  Honor  a  short 
sketch  of  our  engagement,  which  is  as  follows  : 

On  Friday  morning,  the  llth  instant,  our  alarm  guns 
were  fired,that  the  enemy's  fleet  were  off  Cumberland 

*  Arnold  does  not  seem  to  have  been  badly  f  rightenedal  the  appear- 
anceof  the  "  three-masted  ship,"  although  "he  had  no  knowledge  that 
so  large  a  vessel  was  xipon  t  he  lake,  until  she  hove  in  sight  off  Cumber- 
land Head.  WASHINGTON  had  heard  of  the  vessel  from  a  prisoner, 
and  had  transmitted  the  information  to  Congress  on  the  27th  of  Sep- 
tember, but  not  even  a  rumor  of  such  a  vessel  had  reached  the  offi- 
cers on  Lake  Charnplain.  Capt.  Douglass  was  misinformed  as  to 
the  relative  efficiency  of  the  two  fleets.  The  British  had  a  decided 
superiority  both  in  the  experience  and  discipline  of  seamen  and  gun- 
ners, and  in  weight  of  metal. 


BATTLE   OF   VALCOUR.  227 

Head.  I  immediately  went  on  board  of  General  Arnold, 
and  told  him  that  I  gave  it  as  my  opinion  that  the  fleet 
ought  immediately  to  come  to  sail,  and  fight  them  on 
the  retreat  in  Main  Lake,  as  they  were  so  much  superior 
to  us  in  number  and  strength,  and  we  being  in  such  a 
disadvantageous  harbor  to  fight  a  number  so  much  su- 
perior, and  the  enemy  being  able  with  their  small  boats 
to  surround  us  on  every  side,  as  I  knew  they  could,  we 
lying  between  an  island  and  the  main  :  but  General 
Arnold  was  of  the  opinion  that  it  was  best  to  draw  the 
fleet  in  a  line  where  we  lay,  in  the  bay  of  Valcour. 
The  fleet  very  soon  came  up  with  us,  and  surrounded  us, 
when  a  very  hot  engagement  ensued,  from  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  till  towards  sunset,  when  the  enemy  with- 
drew. We  immediately  held  council  to  secure  a  retreat 
through  their  fleet  to  get  to  Crown  Point,  which  was  done 
with  so  much  secrecy  that  we  went  through  them  en- 
tirely undiscovered.  The  enemy  finding,  next  morning, 
that  we  had  retreated,  immediately  pursued  us, — the 
wind  being  against  us,  and  my  vessel  so  torn  to  pieces 
that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  keep  her  above  water ; 
my  sails  were  so  short  that  carrying  sail  split  them 
from  foot  to  head,  and  I  was  obliged  to  come  to  anchor 
at  twelve  o'clock,  to  mend  my  sails.  When  we  had 
completed  that  we  made  sail  just  at  evening.  The  en- 
emy still  pursued  all  night.  I  found  next  morning 
that  they  gained  upon  us  very  fast,  and  that  they  would 
very  soon  overtake  me.  The  rest  of  the  fleet  all  being 
very  much  ahead  of  me,  I  sent  my  boat  on  board  of 
General  Arnold  to  get  liberty  to  put  my  wounded  in  the 
boat  and  send  them  forward  and  run  my  vessel  on  shore 
and  blow  her  up.  I  received  for  answer,  by  no  means 
to  run  her  ashore,  but  to  push  forward  to  Split  Rock, 
where  he  would  draw  the  fleet  in  line  and  engage  them 
again  :  but  when  I  came  to  Split  Rock,  the  whole  fleet 
was  making  their  escape  as  fast  as  they  could,  and  left 
me  in  the  rear  to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands.  But  be- 
fore I  struck  to  them,  the  ship  of  eighteen  twelve 
pounders  and  a  schooner  of  fourteen  six-pounders  had 
surrounded  me  which  obliged  me  to  strike,  and  I 


228  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

thought  it  prudent  to  surrender  myself  prisoner  of  war. 
As  soon  as  I  was  taken  General  Arnold,  with  four  gon- 
dolas, ran  ashore  and  blew  up  the  vessels  ahead  of  me. 
One  thing  I  have  omitted  in  the  former  part  of  my 
letter,  that  is,  the  Royal  Savage  ran  ashore  on  the  Point 
of  Valcour  in  the  first  engagement  and  was  lost. 


DAVID  WATERBTJRY,  Jr. 


FROM  HADDEN'S  JOURNAL,  PUBLISHED  BY  JOEL  MUN- 
SELL'S  SONS,  ALBANY  ;  1884. 

[James  Murray  Hadden  was  a  2nd  lieutenant  in  the  Royal  Regiment 
of  Artillery,  and  had  command  of  a  British  gun-boat  in  the  naval  bat- 
tle at  Yalcour  Island.  ] 

EXTRACT. — "  The  10th  Oct'r  the  fleet  proceeded  to 
the  southern  end  of  Isle  La  Motte  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  Lake  Champlain,  which  afterwards  widens  very  con- 
siderably to  about  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  in  many  places. 
The  llth  of  Oct'r  the  army  arrived  at  Point  Au 
Fer  under  General  Burgoyne,  and  early  in  the  morn- 
ing the  fleet  under  Gen'l  Carlton,  and  Captain  Pringle 
of  the  navy.  A  large  detachment  of  savages,  under 
Mayor  Carlton,  also  moved  with  the  fleet  in  their  canoes, 
which  were  very  regularly  ranged.  These  canoes  are 
made  of  birch  bark,  and  some  of  them  brought  fifteen 
hundred  miles  down  tho  country,  several  of  which  would 
contain  thirty  people.  *  *  About  eleven  o'clock  this 
morning,  one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  was  discovered  and 
immediately  pursued  into  a  bay  on  the  eastern  [sic.] 
shore  of  the  lake  where  the  rest  of  their  fleet  was 
found  at  anchor  in  the  form  of  a  crescent  between  Val- 
cour Island  and  the  Continent.  Their  fleet  consisted  of 
three  row  galleys,  two  schooners,  two  sloops  and  eight 
gondolas,  carrying  in  all  ninety  guns.  That  of  the 


BATTLE   OF  VALCOTJR.  229 

British  carried  only  eighty-seven  peices  of  ordinance  in- 
cluding eight  howitzers.  The  pursuit  of  this  vessel  was 
without  order  or  regularity,  the  wind  being  fair  to  go 
down  the  lake  enabled  us  to  overtake  the  vessel  before 
she  could,  by  taks,  get  into  the  rest  of  their  fleet,  but 
lost  to  us  the  opportunity  of  going  in  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  island  and  attacking  the  whole  at  once.  The 
vessel  which  proved  to  be  the  Royal  Savage,  taken  by 
them  from  St.  Johns  last  year,  carrying  fourteen  guns, 
was  run  on  shore,  and  most  of  the  men  escaped  on  to 
Valcour  Island,  in  effecting  which  they  were  fired  upon 
by  the  gun-boats,  this  firing  at  one  object  drew  us  all 
in  a  cluster  and  four  of  the  enemy's  vessels  getting  un- 
der weigh  to  support  the  Royal  Savage,  fired  upon  the 
boats  with  success.  An  order  was  therefore  given  by 
the  commanding  officer  for  the  boats  to  form  across  the 
bay :  this  was  soon  effected  though  under  the  enemy's 
whole  fire,  and  unsupported,  all  the  King's  vessels  hav- 
ing dropped  too  far  to  leeward.  This  unequal  combat 
was  maintained  for  two  hours,  without  any  aid,  when 
the  Carlton  schooner  of  14  guns,  6  pounders,  got  into 
the  bay  and  immediately  received  the  enemy's  whole 
fire,  which  was  continued  without  intermission  for  about 
an  hour,  when  the  boats  of  the  fleet  towed  her  off,  and 
left  the  gun-boats  to  maintain  the  conflict.  This  was 
done  till  the  boats  had  expended  their  ammunition 
when  they  were  withdrawn,  having  sunk  one  of  the  en- 
emy's gondolas,  killed  or  wounded  seventy  men,  and 
considerably  damaged  others,  Being  small  objects  the 
loss  in  the  gun-boats  was  inconsiderable.  Twenty 
men  (a  German  gun-boat  blown  up).  Each  gun- 
boat carried  one  gun  in  the  bow  (or  howitzer), 
7  Artillerymen  and  11  seamen,  the  whole  under  an  Ar- 
tillery officer.  It  was  found  that  the  boats'  advantage 
was  not  to  come  nearer  than  700  yards,  as  whenever 
they  approached  nearer,  they  were  greatly  annoyed  by 
grape  shot,  though  their  case  could  do  little  mischief. 
Each  boat  had  80  rounds  of  ammunition,  30  of  which 
were  case  shot,  and  could  not  be  used  with  effect.  The 
boats  were  now  formed  between  the  vessels  of  the 


230  HISTOJIY  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 

British  fleet,  just  wunout  the  enemy's  shot,  being  with- 
drawn a  little  before  sundown  and  the  Royal  Savage 
blown  up.  This  last  was  an  unnecessary  measure,  as 
she  might  at  a  more  leisure  moment  have  been  got  off, 
or,  at  all  events,  her  stores  saved,  and  in  her  present 
position  no  use  could  be  made  of  her  by  the  enemy  ; 
night  coming  on  it  was  determined  to  make  a  general 
attack  early  next  morning.  The  rebels  having  no  land 
force  the  savages  took  post  on  the  main  and  Valcour 
Island.  Thus  being  upon  both  flanks  they  were  able 
to  annoy  them  in  the  working  of  their  guns.  This  had 
the  effect  of  now  and  then  obliging  the  rebels  to  turn  a 
gun  that  way,  which  danger  the  savages  avoided  by 
getting  behind  trees.  The  boats  having  received  a 
small  supply  of  ammunition,  were  unaccountably  or- 
dered to  anchor  under  cover  of  a  small  island  without 
the  opening  of  the  bay. 

"  The  enemy  finding  their  force  diminished  and  the 
rest  severely  handled  by  little  more  than  one-third  the 
British  fleet,. determined  to  withdraw  towards  Crown 
Point,  and  passing  through  our  fleet  about  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  effected  it  undiscovered.  This  the  former 
position  of  the  gun-boats  would  probably  have  pre- 
vented. All  the  enemy's  vessels  used  oars,  and  on 
this  occasion  they  were  muffled." 

*  In  the  editions  of  this  compilation,  published  in  1853  and  1866,  it  is 
stated  that  Arnold,  on  his  retreat,  passed  around  the  north  end  of  Val- 
cour. I  have  made  the  correction  upon  the  credit  of  Lieut.  Hadden's 
statement  that  the  gun-boats  were  withdrawn,  thus  leaving  a  passage 
along  the  main  shore  unguarded. 


NAVAL  BATTLE  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN,  1814. 
LETTER,  ETC. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

OCTOBER  3, 1814. 
SIR. 

IN  compliance  with  your  request,  I  have  now  the  hon- 
or to  enclose  copies  of  all  the  documents  received  from 
Captain  Macdonough,  in  relation  to  the  brilliant  and 
extraordinary  victory  achieved  by  the  United  States' 
squadron  under  his  command,  over  that  of  the  enemy 
in  Plattsburgh  Bay,  on  Lake  Champlain. 

This  action,  like  that  of  its  prototype  on  Lake  Erie, 
cannot  be  portrayed  in  language  corresponding  with  the 
universal  and  just  admiration  inspired  by  the  exalted 
prowess,  consummate  skill,  and  cool,  persevering  intre- 
pidity, which  will  ever  distinguish  this  splendid  and 
memorable  event. 

This  like  those  brilliant  naval  victories  which  pre- 
ceded it  has  its  peculiar  features,  which  mark  it  with 
a  distinct  character.  It  was  fought  at  anchor.  The 
firm,  compact,  and  well  formed  line  ;  the  preparations 
for  all  the  evolutions  of  which  the  situation  was  sus- 
ceptible, and  the  adroitness  and  decisive  effect  with 
which  they  were  performed  in  the  heat  of  battle,  mark 
no  less  the  judgment  which  planned,  than  the  valor  and 
skill  displayed  in  the  execution. 

All  these  are  heightened  by  the  contemplation  of  a 
vigorous  and  greatly  superior  foe,  moving  down  upon 
this  line,  in  his  own  time,  selecting  his  position,  and 
choosing  his  distance  ;  animated  by  the  proximity  of  a 


232  HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

powerful  army  in  co-operation,  and  stimulated  by  the 
settled  confidence  of  victory. 

To  view  it  in  abstract,  it  is  not  surpassed  by  any 
naval  victory  on  record  ;  to  appreciate  its  result,  it  is 
perhaps  one  of  tlic  most  important  events  in  the  history 
of  our  country. 

That  it  will  be  justly  estimated,  and  the  victors  duly 
honored  by  the  councils  of  the  nation,  the  justice  and 
liberality  hitherto  displayed  on  similar  occasions,  is  a 
sufficient  pledge. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Very  respectfully  sir, 
Your  obedient  servant, 
W.  JONES. 

The  Hon.  Charles  Tate, 

Chairman  of  the  Naval  Committee  of  the  Senate. 


(Copy.)  United  States'  ship  Saratoga,  off 

Pittsburgh,  Sept.  11,  1814. 

SIR, 

The  Almighty  has  been  pleased  to  grant  us  a  sig- 
nal victory  on  lake   Champlain,  in  the  capture  of  one 
frigate,  one  brig,  and  two  sloops  of  war  of  the  enemy. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be 
Very  respectfully  sir, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

T.  MACDONOUGH,  com. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


(Copy.)  United  States'  ship  Saratoga, 

at  anchor  off  Pittsburgh,  Sept.  13,  1814. 

SIR, 

By  lieut.  commandant  Cassin  I  have  the  honor  to  con- 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE   CHAMPLAIN.  233 

vey  to  you  the  flags  of  his  Brittannic  majesty's  late 
squadron,  captured  om  the  llth  inst.  by  the  United 
States'  squadron,  under  my  command.  Also,  my  de- 
spatches relating  to  that  occurrence,  which  should  have 
been  in  your  possession  at  an  earlier  period,  but  for  the 
difficulty  in  arranging  the  different  statements. 

The  squadron  under  my  command  now  lies  at  Platts- 
burgh — it  will  bear  of  considerable  diminution,  and 
leave  a  force  sufficient  to  repel  any  attempt  of  the  en- 
emy in  this  quarter.  I  shall  wait  your  order  what  to  do 
with  the  whole  or  any  part  thereof,  and  should  it  be 
consistent,  I  beg  you  will  favor  me  with  permission  to 
leave  the  lake  and  place  me  under  command  of  commo- 
dore Decatur,  at  New  York.  My  health  (being  some 
time  on  the  lake,)  together  with  the  almost  certain  in- 
activity of  future  naval  operations  here,  are  among  the 
causes  for  this  request  of  my  removal. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Sir,  with  much  respect, 
Your  most  ob't  servant, 
T.  MACDONOUGH. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary 

of  the  Navy,  Washington. 


(Copy.)  United  States'  ship  Saratoga, 

Plattsburgh  Bay,  Sept.  11,  1814 

Sir, 

I  have  the  honor  to  give  you  the  particulars  of  the 
action  which  took  place  on  the  llth  inst.  on  this  lake. 

For  several  days  the  enemy  were  on  their  way  to 
Plattsburgh,  by  land  and  water;  and  it  being  under- 
stood that  an  attack  would  be  made  at  the  same  time  by 
their  land  and  naval  forces,  1  determined  to  await  at 
anchor  the  approach  of  the  latter. 

At  8  A.  M.  the  lookout  boat  announced  the  approach 


234  HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLA1N. 

of  the  enemy.  At  9,  he  anchored  in  a  line  ahead  at 
about  300  yards  distance  from  my  line  ;  his  ship  opposed 
to  the  Saratoga,  his  brig  to  the  Eagle,  Captain  Robert 
Henley,  his  galleys,  thirteen  in  number,  to  the  schoon- 
er, sloop,  and  a  division  of  our  galleys  ;  one  of  his  sloops 
assisting  their  ship  and  brig,  the  other  assisting  their 
galleys.  Our  remaining  galleys  with  the  Saratoga  and 
Eagle.  In  this  situation,  the  whole  force,  on  both  sides, 
became  engaged  :  the  Saratoga  suffering  much  from  the 
heavy  fire  of  the  Confiance.  I  could  perceive  at  the 
same  time,  however,  that  our  fire  was  very  destructive 
to  her.  The  Ticonderoga,  lieutenant-commandant  Cas- 
sin,  gallantly  sustained  her  full  share  of  the  action.  At 
half-past  10  o'clock,  the  Eagle,  not  being  able  to  bring 
her  guns  to  bear,  cut  her  cable,  and  anchored  in  a  more 
eligible  position,  between  my  ship  and  the  Ticonderoga, 
where  she  very  much  annoyed  the  enemy,  but  unfortu- 
nately leaving  me  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the  en- 
emy's brig.  Our  guns  on  the  starboard  side  being  nearly 
all  dismounted,  or  not  manageable,  a  stern  anchor  was 
let  go,  the  bower  cable  cut,  and  the  ship  winded  with  a 
fresn  broadside  on  the  enemy's  ship,  which  soon  after 
surrendered.  Our  broadside  was  then  sprung  to  bear 
on  the  brig,  which  surrendered  in  about  15  minutes 
after. 

The  sloop  that  was  opposed  to  the  Eagle,  had  struck 
some  time  before,  and  drifted  down  the  line ;  the  sloop 
which  was  with  their  galleys  having  struck  also  :  three  of 
their  galleys  are  said  to  be  sunk,  the  others  pulled  off. 
Our  galleys  were  about  obeying,  with  alacrity,  the  sig- 
nal to  follow  them,  when  all  the  vessels  were  reported 
to  me  to  be  in  a  sinking  state  ;  it  then  became  necessary 
to  annul  the  signal  to  the  galleys,  and  order  their  men 
to  the  pumps. 

I  could  only  look  at  the  enemy's  galleys  going  off  in 
a  shattered  condition,  for  there  was  not  a  mast  in  either 
squadron  that  could  stand  to  make  sail  on ;  the  lower 
rigging,  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung  down  as 
though  it  had  been  just  placed  over  the  mast  heads. 

The  Saratoga  had  fifty-five  round  shot  in  her  hull ; 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  235 

the  Confiance  one  hundred  and  five.  The  enemy's  shot 
passed  principally  just  over  our  heads,  as  there  were 
not  twenty  whole  hammocks  in  the  nettings  aj,  the  close 
of  the  action,  which  lasted,  without  intermission,  two 
hours  and  twenty  minutes. 

The  absence  and  sickness  of  Lieut.  Raymond  Perry, 
left  me  without  the  services  of  that  excellent  officer ; 
much  ought  fairly  to  be  attributed  to  him  for  his  great 
care  and  attention  in  disciplining  the  ship's  crew,  as  her 
first  lieutenant.  His  place  was  filled  by  a  gallant 
young  officer,  Lieutenant  Peter  Gamble,  who,  I  regret 
to  inform  you,  was  killed  early  in  the  action.  Acting- 
Lieutenant  Vallette  worked  the  1st  and  2nd  divisions 
of  guns  with  able  effect.  Sailing  master  Brum's  atten- 
tion to  the  springs,  and  in  the  execution  of  the  order  to 
wind  the  ship,  and  occasionally  at  the  guns,  meets  with 
my  entire  approbation ;  also  Captain  Young's  com- 
manding the  acting  marines,  who  took  his  men  to  the 
guns.  Mr.  Beale,  purser,  was  of  great  service  at  the 
guns,  and  in  carrying  my  orders  throughout  the  ship, 
with  Midshipman  Montgomery.  Master's  mate  Joshua 
Justin,  had  the  command  of  the  third  division :  his 
conduct  during  the  action  was  that  of  a  brave  and  cor- 
rect officer.  Midshipmen  Monteith,  Graham,  William- 
son, Platt,  Thwing,  and  Acting  Midshipman  Baldwin, 
all  behaved  well,  and  gave  evidence  of  their  making 
valuable  officers. 

The  Saratoga  was  twice  set  on  firo  by  hot  shot  from 
the  enemy's  ship. 

I  close,  sir,  this  communication  with  feelings  of  grati- 
tude for  the  able  support  I  received  from  every  officer 
and  man  attached  to  the  squadron  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  command. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

With  great  respect,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

P.  S.     Accompanying  this  is   a  list  of  killed  and 


236  HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

wounded,  u  list  of  the  prisoners,  and  a  precise  state, 
ment  of  both  forces  engaged.  Also  letters  from  Capt. 
Henly  and  Lieut.-Coramandant  Cassin.  T.  M. 


(Copy. )  United  States'  Ship  Saratoga. 

September  13,  1814. 

SIR, 

I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  killed 
and  wounded  on  board  the  different  vessels  of  the 
squadron  under  your  command  in  the  action  of  the 
llth  in st. 

It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  correctly  the  loss  of  the 
enemy.  From  the  best  information  received  from  the 
British  officers,  from  ray  own  observations,  and  from 
various  lists  found  on  board  the  Confiance,  I  calculate 
the  number  of  men  on  board  of  that  ship  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  at  270,  of  whom  180,  at  least, 
were  killed  and  wounded ;  and  on  board  the  other  cap- 
tured vessels  at  least  80  more,  making  the  whole,  killed 
or  wounded,  260.  This  is  doubtless  short  of  the  real 
number,  as  many  were  thrown  overboard  from  the  Con- 
fiance  during  the  engagement. 

The  Inuster  books  must  have  been  thrown  overboard 
or  otherwise  disposed  of,  as  they  are  not  to  be  found. 
I  am,  sir,  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  BEALE,  Jr., 

Purser. 

Thomas  Macdonough,  Esq.,  Commanding 

United  States'  Squadron  on  Lake  Champlain. 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  237 

Return  of  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  United 
States  squadron  on  Lake  Champlain  in  the  engage- 
ment with  the  British  fleet,  on  the  llth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1814. 

SHIP  SARATOGA. 

KILLED. — Peter  Gamble,  lieutenant ;  Thomas  Butler, 
quarter  gunner ;  James  Norberry,  boatswain's  mate  ; 
Abraham  Davis,  quarter-master;  William  Wyer,  sail- 
maker;  William  Brickel,  seaman;  Peter  Johnson,  sea- 
man ;  John  Coleman,  seaman  ;  Benjamin'  Burrill,  ordi- 
nary seaman ;  Andrew  Parmlee,  ordinary  seaman  ;  Peter 
Post,  seaman ;  David  Bennett,  seaman  ;  Ebenezer 
Johnson,  seaman  ;  Joseph  Couch,  landsman  ;  Thomas 
Stephens,  seaman ;  Randall  McDonald,  ordinary  sea- 
man; John  White,  ordinary  seaman;  Samuel  Smith, 
seaman ;  Thomas  Malony,  ordinary  seaman ;  Andrew 
Nelson,  seaman  ;  John  Sellack,  seaman  ;  Peter  Hanson, 
seaman  ;  Jacob  Lara  way,  seaman ;  Edward  Moore,  sea- 
man ;  Jerome  Williams,  ordinary  seaman ;  James  Car- 
lisle, marine ;  John  Smart,  seaman ;  Earl  Hannemon, 
seaman.  Total,  28. 

WOUNDED. — James  M.  Baldwin,  acting  midshipman  ; 
Joseph  Barren,  pilot ;  Robert  Gary,  quarter  gunner ; 
George  Cassin,  quartermaster;  John  Hollingsworth, 
seaman;  Thomas  Robinson,  seaman;  Purnall  Smith, 
seaman ;  John  Ottiwell,  seaman ;  John  Thompson,  or- 
dinary seaman ;  William  Tabee,  ordinary  seaman ; 
William  Williams,  ordinary  seaman  ;  John  Roberson, 
seaman  ;  John  Towns,  landsman ;  John  Shays,  seaman  ; 
John  S.  Hammond,  seaman  ;  James  Barlow,  seaman ; 
James  Nagle,  ordinary  seaman  ;  John  Lanman,  seaman  ; 
Peter  Colberg,  seaman;  William  Newton,  ordinary 
seaman ;  Neil  J.  Heidmont,  seaman ;  James  Steward, 
seaman ;  John  Adams,  landsman  ;  Charles  Ratche,  sea- 
man; Benjamin  Jackson,  marine;  Jesse  Vanhorn, 
marine  J  Joseph  Ketter,  marine  ;  Samuel  Pearson,  ma- 
rine. Total,  29. 


238  HUNGRY   OF  LAKE  CHAMI'LAIN. 

BRIG  £A6LE. 

KILLED. — Peter  Vandermere,  master's  mate;  John 
Ribero,  seaman ;  Jacob  Lindnmn,  seaman ;  Perkins 
Moore,  ordinary  seaman ;  James  Winship,  ordinary 
seaman;  Thomas  Anwright,  ordinary  seaman;  Nace 
Wilson,  ordinary  seaman ;  Thomas  Lewis,  boy ;  John 
Wallace,  marine ;  Joseph  Heaton,  marine ;  Robert 
Stratton,  marine ;  James  M.  Hale,  musician ;  John 
Wood,  musician.  Total,  13. 

WOUNDED. — Joseph  Smith,  lieutenant ;  William  A. 
Spencer,  acting  lieutenant ;  Francis  Breeze,  master's 
mate ;  Abraham  Walters,  pilot ;  William  C.  Allen, 
quartermaster;  James  Duick, quarter  gunner;  Andrew 
McEwen,  seaman  ;  Zebediah  Concklin,  seaman ;  Joseph 
Valentine,  seaman ;  John  Hartley,  seaman ;  John 
Micklan,  seaman;  Robert  Buckley,  seaman;  Aaron 
Fitzgerald,  boy  ;  Purnall  Boice,  ordinary  seaman  ;  John 
N.  Craig,  seaman  ;  John  McKenny,  seaman ;  Mathew 
Scriver,  marine ;  George  Main  waring,  marine  ;  Henry 
Jones,  marine ;  John  McCarty,  marine.  Total,  20. 

SCHOONER   TICONDEROGA. 

KILLED. — John  Stansbury,  lieutenant ;  John  Fisher, 
boatswain's  mate  ;  John  Atkinson,  boatswain's  mate  ; 
Henry  Johnson,  seaman ;  Deodiick  Think,  marine  ; 
John  Sharp,  marine.  Total,  6. 

WOUNDED. — Patrick  Cassin,  seaman;  EzekielGoud, 
seaman  ;  Samuel  Sawyer,  seaman ;  William  Le  Count, 
seaman ;  Henry  Collin,  seaman  ;  John  Condon,  marine. 
Total,  6. 

SLOOP    PREBLE. 

KILLED. — Rogers    Carter,    acting    sailing    master ; 
Joseph  Rowe,  boatswain's  mate. 
WOUNDED. — None. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  239 

GUN-BOAT  BORER. 

KILLED. — Arthur  W.  Smith,  pursers  steward; 
Thomas  Gill,  boy ;  James  Day,  marine. 

WOUNDED. — Ebenezer  Cobb,  corporal  of  marines. 

GUN-BOAT  CENTIPEDE. 

WOUNDED. — James  Taylor,  landsman. 

GUN-BOAT  WILMER. 

WOUNDED. — Peter  Frank,  seaman. 

RECAPITULATION. 

KILLED. — Saratoga,  28 ;  Eagle,  13  ;  Ticonderoga,  6 ; 
Preble,  2 ;  Borer,  3.  Total,  52. 

WOUNDED. — Saratoga,  29 ;  Eagle,  20 ;  Ticonderoga, 
6 ;  Borer,  1 ;  Centipede,  1 ;  Wilmer,  1.  Total,  58. 

GUN-BOATS. 

NONE  KILLED  OR  WOUNDED. — Nettle,  Allen,  Viper, 
Burrows,  Ludlow,  Alwyn,  Ballard. 

GEORGE  BEALE,  Jr., 

Purser. 
Approved. 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 


LIST   OP  PRISONERS   CAPTURED  ON  THE  llTH  SEPTEM- 
BER, AND  SENT  TO  GREENE  USH. 

OFFICERS. — Daniel  Priug,*   captain;    Hicks,    Cres- 
wick,  Robinson,  M'Ghie,  Drew,  Hornsby,  lieutenants  ; 

*  On  parole. 


240 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


Childs,  lieutenant  of  marines ;  Fitzpatrick,  lieutenant 
39th  Regt. ;  Bryden,  sailing-master  ;  Clark,  Simmonds, 
master's  mates ;  Todd,  surgeon ;  Giles,  purser ;  Guy, 
captain's  clerk ;  Dowell,  Aire,  Bondell,  Toorke,  Kew- 
stra,  midshipmen  ;  Davidson,  boatswain ;  Elvin,  Mickel, 
gunners;  Cox,  carpenter;  Parker,  purser;  Martin, 
surgeon  M'Cabe,  assistant  surgeon. 

340  seamen. 

47  wounded  men  paroled. 


STATEMENT    OF   THE   AMERICAN    FORCE   ENGAGED   ON 
THE  llTH  SEPTEMBER,  1814. 


Saratoga, 


Eagle, 
Ticonderoga, 


Preble, 


Allen, 

Burrows, 

Borer, 

Nettle, 

Viper, 

Centipede, 

Ludlow, 

Wilmer 

Alwyn, 

Ballard, 


8  long  24  pounders, 

6  42  pound  carronades, 

12  32    do.  do.         Total,  26  guns. 

12  32    do.  do.  &  8  long  18  prs.    20 

8  long  12  pounders. 

4  18        do. 

5  32  pound  carronades.  17 

7  long  9  pounders,  7 


Ten  Galleys,  viz  : 


1  long  24  pr.  &  1  18  pr.  Columbiad,    2 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 


24 
24 
24 
24 
24 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


12  pounder, 
12      do. 
12      do. 
12      do. 


Guns,      86 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  241 

BECAPITULATION. 

14  long  24  pounders, 

6  42  pound  carronades, 
29  32    do.  do. 

12  long  18  pounders, 
12          12        do. 

7  9        do. 

6  18  pound  Columbiads. 

Total,      86  guns.    Ave.  22  3-4  pounders 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 


STATEMENT  OP  THE  ENEMY'S  FORCE  ENGAGED  ON  THE 
llTH  SEPTEMBER,  1814. 

Frigate  Confiance,  27  long  24  pounders, 

4  32  pound  carronades, 

6  24      do.        do. 

2  1. 18  prs.  on  b.  deck.  T'l,  39  guns. 

Brig  Linnet,  16  long  12  pounders,  16 

Sloop  Chub,*  10  18  pound  carronades, 

1  long  6  pounder,  11 

Finch,*  6  18  pound  carronades, 

1  18    do.     Columbiad, 
4  long  6  pounders,  11 

Thirteen  Galleys,  viz  : 

Sir  James  Yeo,          1 1.  24  pr.  &  1  32  p.  carronade,  2 

Sir  George  Prevost,  1        do.  do.  2 

Sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  1        do.  do.  2 

Broke,  1  1. 18  pr.  &  1  32  p.    do.  2 

Murray,  1       do.     &  1  18  p.     do.  2 

Wellington,  1        do.  1 

*These  sloops  were  formerly  the  United  States'  Growler  and  Eagle. 


242 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


Tecumseh,  1 

Name  unknown,         1 

Drummond,  1 

Simcoe,  1 

Unknown,  1 

Do.  1 

Do.  1 


do. 

do. 

32  pound  carronade, 

do.  do. 

do.  do. 

do.  do. 

do.  do. 


Total,    

95 


Total, 


BECAPITFLATION. 

30  long  24  pounders, 
7          18     do. 

16  12    do. 

5  6    do. 

13  32  pound  cammades, 

6  24  pound         do. 

17  18     do.  do. 

1  18     do.  Columbiad. 

95  guns.     Ave.  about  21  1-5 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 


(Copy.)  United  States  Brig  Eagle, 

Plattsburgh,  Sept.  12,  1814. 

SLR, 

I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  all  my  officers  and 
men  acted  bravely,  and  did  their  duty  in  the  battle  of 
yesterday,  with  the  enemy. 

I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  making  a  more  particular 
representation  of  the  respective  merits  of  my  gallant 
officers,  to  the  Honorable  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Respectfully  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
ROBERT  HENLEY. 


HISTORY   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  243 

P.  S.  We  had  thirty-nine  round  shot  in  our  hull, 
(mostly  24  pounders,)  four  in  our  lower  masts,  and  we 
were  well  peppered  with  grape.  I  enclose  my  boat- 
swain's report. 


(Copy.)  Unites  States  Schooner  Ticonderoga, 

Plattsburgh  Bay,  Sept.  12,  1814. 

SIR, 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  state  that  every  officer  and  man 
under  my  command,  did  their  duty  yesterday. 
Yours  respectfully, 

STEPHEN  CASSIN, 

Lieutenant-  Commandant 

Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough. 


United  States'  Ship  Saratoga, 
September  15,  1814,  off  Plattsburgh. 

SIR, 

As  Providence  has  given  into  my  command  the 
squadron  on  Lake  Champlain,  of  which  you  were  (after 
the  fall  of  Captain  Downie)  the  commanding  officer,  I 
beg  you  will,  after  the  able  conflict  you  sustained,  and 
evidence  of  determined  valor  you  evinced  on  board  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  brig  Linnet,  until  the  necessity  of 
her  surrender,  accept  of  your  enclosed  parole,  not  to 
serve  against  the  United  States,  or  their  dependencies, 
until  regularly  exchanged. 

I  am,  &c.,  &c., 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 

To  Captain  Pring,  Royal  Navy. 


INDEX. 


ABEBCBOMBIE,  MAJ.-GENL. 

Chief  Commandant  in  America 67 

Advances  against  Ticonderoga 68 

Retreat  of . .". 69 

ALGONQUINS. — At  war  with  the  Mohawks 19 

ALLEN,  EBENEZER,  CAPT. 

Captures  works  on  Mount  Defiance 131 

ALLAN,  ETHAN,  COL. 

Character  of 87 

Expedition  against  Ticonderoga 88 

Taken  prisoner  at  Montreal 96 

AMHEKST,  MAJ.-GENL. 

Moves  against  Ticonderoga;  builds  fort  at  Crown 
Point;  embarks  for  Canada  ;  plans  expedition 
against  Indians ;  takes  Montreal 73-77 

ARNOLD,  BENEDICT,  GENL.— 

Character  of 86 

At  Ticonderoga 88 

Expedition  against  St.  Johns 91 

Cruises  on  Lake 104-5 

Engagement  at  Valcour  and  loss  of  fleet 108-112 

AMERICANS. — Build  vessels  on  lake 104 

Strengthen  Ticonderoga 103-118 

Evacuate  Ticonderoga 122 

Retake  Mt.  Defiance 131 

Invasion  of  Canada,  1875-6 93 

Retreat  from  Canada 100 

APPENDIX. 

Graves  of  officers  killed  Sept.  1814 218 

Official  reports  of  battle  of  Valcour 219 

Macdonough's  official  report 231 

BAUM,  COL. — Defeated  at  Bennington 132 


246  INDEX. 

BEAUHAKNOIS,  M.  DE. — Erects  fort  at  Crown  Point 47 

BLOOMFIELD,  GEN.— Ordered  to  Champlain  frontier 161 

BOUGAINVILLE,  M.  DE. — Abandons  Isle  Aux  Noix 77 

BOUBLEMAQUE,  M.  DE. — Sent  to  protect  Carillon 73 

Destroys  fort  and  retreats  to  Canada 74 

BUKGOYNE,  GENL. 

Assigned  to  command  in  Canada 116 

Invests  Ticonderoga 117-123 

Surrender  of 132 

BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES  OF 

Allen,  Ebenezer 138 

Allen,  Ira 139 

Burgoyne,  Genl 133 

Bailey,  William 153 

Macdonough,  Com 164 

Macomb,  Alex.,  Genl 187 

Mooers,  Ben j.  Genl 141 

Izard,  Genl 184 

Pike,  Z.   M.,  Genl 162 

Platt,  Zephaniah 146 

Platt,  Charles 149 

Sailly,  Peter 148 

Smith,  Melancton,  Judge 144 

Smith,  Sidney,  Lieut 165 

Smith,  Melancton,  Col 191 

St.  Clair,  Genl 118 

Treadwell,  Thomas 147 

Woolsey,  Melancton  L 149 

BURLINGTON.— Bell  of  St.  Regis  secreted  there 44 

U.  S.  troops  stationed  at  in  1812-14 168-182 

Fired  at  by  British  Gun-boats 170 

CANADA.— Condition  of  in  1689 34 

Ceded  to  Great  Britain 77 

Invasion  and  retreat  of  American  Army 93-101 

Military  Force  in  1812 161 

Trade  with  in  1811 163 

CABIGNAN-SATIERES. — Why  so  called 25 

COURCELLES,  M.  DE. — Defeated  by  Mohawks 27 

CORLEAR. — Intercedes  for  the  French 27 

Drowned  in  Lake  Champlain 32 

CARLETON,  GUT,  GENL. 

Attempt  to  raise  Siege  of  St.  Johns 96 

Policy  towards  prisoners 1 12 

Menaces  Ticonderoga 114 

Returns  to  Canada 115 


INDEX.  247 

CHAMPLAIN,  SAML.  DK. 

Sails  for  America  ...................................     17 

Joins    expedition    against    Mohawks    through  Lake 
Champlain  ....................................  19-21 

Governor  of  Canada  ................................     22 

Character  and  death  ................................     24 

CHAMPLAIN,  TOWN  OF.—  Citizens  threatened  ..................  174 

U.  S.  Army  at  ......................................  184 

Sir  Geo.  Prevost  at  .................................  189 


GOV. 

Dispute  with  Vermont  volunteers  ...................  176 

Orders  Vermont  Militia  to  Plattsburgh  .  .............  207 

CLARK,  ISAAC,  COL.  —  At  Missisco  Bay  ........................  173 

CUMBERLAND  HEAD.—  Military  Works  constructed  on  ........  184 

CROWN  POINT.  —  Occupied  by  French  ........................  27-49 

Amherst  builds  new  fort  at  .........................     74 

Taken  possession  of  by  Americans  ..................     89 

Condition  of  Army  at,  on  return  from  Canada  ........  100 

DEARBORN  MAJ.-GENL.  —  Command  of  Northern  frontier  ......  161 

DERBY,  VT.  —  Storehouses  and  barracks  burned  .................  174 

DEERFIELD.  —  Destroyed  by  French  and  Indians  ...............  44 

DENONVILLE,  M.  DE.  —  Makes  treaty  with  Iroquois  ............  35 

DIESKAU,  BARON  DE. 

Arrives  at  Crown  Point  ............   ................     59 

Attacks  English  at  Lake  George  and  wounded  .......     60 

DOWNIE,  GEORGE  CAPT. 

Commands  British  fleet  in  1814  ......................  198 

Killed  in  action  .....................................  202 

Buried  at  Plattsburgh  ...........................  209-218 

ENGLISH.  —  Iroquois'  opinion  of  ...............................     57 

Neglect  to  colonize  on  Lake  Champlain  .............     55 

Defeat  Arnold  at  Valcour  ..........................  107 

Capture  Ticonderoga  ................................  122 

Retreat  to  Canada  ..................................  133 

Subsequent  appearance  on  Lake  .....................  134 

Henry's  mission  to  New  England  ....................  157 

Appear  off  Burlington  ..............................  170 

Destroy  property  at  Plattsburgh  .....................  169 

Appear  off  Otto  Creek  ..............................  183 

Enter  U.  S.  under  Provost  ..........................  189 

Reach  Plattsburgh  .....  .  ...........................  194 

Retreat  from  Plattsburgh  ...........................  208 

FRONTENAC,  COUNT  DE. 

Viceroy  of  Canada  ..................................  34 

Organizes  attack  on  Schenectady  ....................  36 

And  against  Mohawk  Village  .  ,  ,  .....................  43 


248  INDEX. 

FORSYTE,  LT.-COL. — Killed  by  Indians 185 

FRENCH. — Repulsed  at  Ft.  Wm.  Henry 64 

Abandon  Lake  Champlain 74 

FORTS. 

Ann 45,  47 

Carillon  built  by  French 62,  64 

Description  of 67 

Blown  up 74 

Chambly.  25 

Attacked  by  Iroquois 34 

Taken  by  Americans 95 

Crown  Point  built  by  Amherst 74 

Edward 58,  64 

George,  massacre  at 66 

Isle  Aux  Noix. 94,  102,  167,  184,  186 

Laprairie 40,  42 

Nicholson 45 

Richelieu 24,  25 

St.  Anne 25,  30,  34 

St.  Frederic,  description  of 48 

Seat  of  French  power 50 

Destroyed 74 

St.  Johns 91,  96,  102 

St.  Theresa 25,  26,  34 

Ticonderoga 62,  74,  87,  110 

William  Henry 62,  64 

HUDSON,  HENRY. — Sails  up  Hudson  River. 23 

HOCHELAGA  (Montreal).— Description  of 16 

H  AVILAND,  COL. — Seizes  Isle  Aux  Noix 77 

HUBBARDTON. — Battle  of 124 

HALE,  COL. — Retreat  dictated  by  humanity 125 

HAMPTON;  MAJ.-GENL. 

Abortive  invasion  of  Canada 172 

Dispute  with  Wilkinson 178 

Removed  from  command  on  frontier 179 

INDIANS. — Character  of 18 

At  Fort  St.  Frederic 50 

Number  of  tribes  under  Montcalm ' 66 

Burgoyne's  war  feast  to ..:.......' 117 

At  Battle  of  Valcour 228 

With  British  in  war  of  1812 174-185 

Claim  of  title  to  land  bordering  on  Lake 154 

JOHNSON,  WM.,  SIR. 

Marches  to  Lake  George 55 

Defeats  Dieskau ,.,.,, 60 


INDEX.  249 

LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

General  description  of 1-14 

First  sail  vessel  built  on 49 

French  grants  on 51 

French  build  armed  vessels 73 

First  settlement  on  borders  of 78-84 

Progress  of  settlement  after  Revolution 137 

Commerce  of  ....„• , 152 

American  and  English  flotillas  on  Lake  in  1776 106-7 

In  1814 198-9 

Variety  of  fish  in 151 

Sloops  on,  in  1811 163 

First  Steamboat  on  Lake 163 

French  fleet  on  Lake  destroyed 75 

U.  S.  Gun-boats  built  in  1812 157 

Loss  of  Eagle  and  Growler 165 

LACOLLE. — Battle  of 180 

MOHAWKS. — Description  of  Villages 31 

MONTCALM,   M.   DE. — Arrives  at  Ticonderoga;   Captures  Fort 

George;  Defeats  Abercrombie 65-68 

MONTGOMERY,  MAJ.-GENL. — Invades    Canada ;    captures    St. 

Johns;  enters  Montreal;  killed  at  Quebec 94-98 

MACDONOUGH,  THOMAS,  CAPT. 

Ordered  to  Lake  Champlain 164 

Builds  fleet 167-183 

Defeats  British 200 

MACOMB,  ALEX.,  GENL. 

In  command  at  Plattsburgh 187 

Strength  of  his  Army 188 

NICHOLSON,  COL. — Plans  invasion  of  Canada 45-47 

PAKKER,  COL. — Captured  by  French  102 

PUTNAM,  ISRAEL,  CAPT. 

Scout  to  St.  Frederic 62 

Skirmish  with  French 70 

Life  saved  by  Marin 71 

PLATTSBURGH. — Murray's  raid 167 

Forts  and  batteries  at 191 

Skirmish  on  Beekmantown  road 193 

Building  burned  by  order  of  Macomb 106 

Loss  at  Battle  of 203,  208,  237 

Funeral  of  officers  in  Sept.,  1814 209 

Sailors  buried  on  Crab  Island 210 

Aiken's  Volunteers  at  Battle  of 195 

Battleof 189-209 

Anniversary  of  battle 211 

Official  report  of  Naval  engagement 231 


250  INDEX. 

PLATT,  NATHANIEL,  C APT. —Disciplines  a  Tory  Divine 85 

POINT  Au  FER.— Fortified  by  Sullivan 100 

Held  by  British  until  after  peace 136 

QUEBEC. — Indian  name  of 16 

ROGERS,  ROBERT,  CAPT. — Scout    to   St.    Frederic,  on    Lake 

Champlain ;  wounded  at  Ticonderoga 62-3 

Expedition  against  St.  Frangois  Indians 78 

Engagement  near  Rouse's  Point 76 

ROUSE'S  POINT. — Arnold  at 104 

Storehouse   burned 175 

Battery  at,  ordered  built 184 

Fort  Blunder  built 11 

SCHENECT  ADY. — Burned 35 

Families  killed  near 39 

SCHUYLER,  ABRAM,  CAPT. — Scout  to  Chambly 38 

SCHUYLER,  JOHN,  CAPT. — Attacks  Laprairie 40 

SCHUYLER,  PHILIP,  MAJ. — Surprises  Fort  Laprairie 42 

ST.  CLAIR,  MAJ.-GENL. — In  command  at  Ticonderoga 119 

Abandons  Ticonderoga 122 

Censured  by  the  people 126 

Ridiculous  report  against 138 

TRACY,  M.  DE.— Builds  Forts. 225 

Invades  Mohawk  country 26-30 

Strangles  a  Mohawk 29 

TRAVASY  AND  CHASY,  CAPTS.—  Murdered  by  Indians 29 

UNITED  STATES. — Difficulty  with  Great  Britain 156 

Declaration  of  war .  160 


VERMONT. — First  settlement  of 77 

Admitted  into  Union 137 

Progress  of  settlements 138 

Patriotism  of  inhabitants. ..'...' 158 

Volunteers  dispute  with  Governor  of 176 

At  Battle  of  Plattsburgh 207 

VALCOUR.— Battle  of 107-111 

Official  reports  of  battle 219 

WINTHROP,  MAJ.-GENL.  ....• 39 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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